SAN DIEGO - A former employee of the San Diego Natural History Museum was behind bars and facing criminal charges Friday for allegedly stealing about $15,000 worth of valuables from the Balboa Park institution.

San Diego police arrested Ruben Alejandro Lopez, 23, yesterday after serving a search warrant at his Kensington home and recovering the looted objects, SDPD spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

"The theft took place in May of 2004, and the museum proprietors initially were not certain whether the items had been stolen or were misplaced during a re-organization of exhibits," Munoz said.

Among the recovered antiquities were a stuffed sea turtle and some "very old" books and survey equipment, she said.

A detective also found drug paraphernalia and baggies containing methamphetamine in the suspect's residence, according to police.

Lopez was booked on suspicion of embezzlement and possession of narcotics for sale.