Florida ‘Paramedic of the Year’ arrested for role in Covid-19 vaccine theft

A Florida man who was named Paramedic of the Year 2020 admitted to investigators he was involved in the alleged theft of coronavirus vaccine doses, the Polk County Sheriff said Tuesday.

Joshua Colon, 21, was arrested on Monday and faces charges of counterfeiting, fraud and misconduct after admitting forging documents to cover up what he said was a supervisor’s theft by a supervisor of three pre-filled syringes of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

At a press conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said authorities noticed there were “discrepancies” and “complete confusion” on three different vaccine forms completed by Colon, who had received three vials full of vaccine on January 6. to Polk County first responders.

Authorities contacted several of the names of those vaccinated on the forms and found that they were former firefighters who said they never received doses.

Judd said the 2020 Paramedic of the Year later “confessed” and started cooperating with investigators, admitting to using false names for “fraud” and “false” reasons.

Colon said he did so at the behest of his supervisor, Polk County Fire Captain Anthony Damiano.

Colon told investigators that Damiano joked about wanting a vaccine for his mother and then threatened him when Colon would not give him the vaccine.

Damiano ordered Colon to take a break, after which three pre-filled syringes disappeared from a sealed bag in a refrigerator.

“Colon said he did not ask his supervisor about the missing vaccines, but immediately became suspicious,” a statement from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. “Colon did not report this incident to anyone within the Polk County Fire Department.”

However, when asked to produce documents, Colon then falsified the documents and said he gave doses to people who never received them.

“The investigation is ongoing, including the role of the supervisor in the theft of vaccines and the creation of fraudulent and falsified medical records,” the Polk County Sheriff said in the statement.

Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff said charges against Damiano were “imminent” and that he was at large.

“Ultimately Joshua tried to cover for the captain, Joshua set up the circumstances for the vaccines to be stolen. If Joshua had just gone to his boss then he would have been the hero, but instead, he started falsifying the paperwork from people who didn’t exist to cover it up, ”Judd said at Tuesday’s press conference.

Colon resigned Friday and was arrested Monday.

In a statement, David Carmichael, an attorney for Colon, said he faced a “very difficult situation” after his supervisor allegedly asked him to provide the vaccines.

“Mr. Colon deeply regrets his weakness in failing to alert the chain of command to the theft of the vaccine, accepts responsibility for his mistake in covering up the theft and, in an effort to protect his agency’s reputation, has resigned of his post. Said Carmichael.