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A Polk County fire paramedic has been arrested for stealing vials of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the sheriff’s office said.
Joshua Colon, 31, was just named Paramedic of the Year in 2020, but on Monday he was arrested for stealing the vaccine and then tampering with testing and consent forms. Colon told detectives that his supervisor ordered him to do so.
“It’s absolutely disappointing. Not only were we responsible for public confidence, but we had a special duty to deliver the vaccine to the first responders who are there, who are helping the public, ”said Fire Chief Robert Weech.
On January 6, Colon received three vials each containing 10 vaccines and was tasked with administering them to first responders.
Colon told MPs that his supervisor, Captain Anthony Damiano, joked with him about getting vaccines for Damiano’s mother. Colon said Damiano told him to report these vaccines as waste. According to the arrest report, Colon initially refused, but Damiano threatened to tell Colon’s supervisors that he was stealing and selling vaccines.
Colon said Damiano ordered him to take his lunch break later in the day. The vaccines were left in a refrigerator with a tag label. When Colon returned to the station, he said he noticed the label on the label was tampered with and three vaccines were missing. He did not report this incident to anyone within Polk County Fire Rescue.
Colon told MPs that when asked later to document the total number of doses given, he created a false name, email addresses and phone numbers, to show that each vaccine was counted.
“In the end, 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 at that point, he would have been the hero, ”Sheriff Grady Judd said.
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Meanwhile, many residents of Polk County have struggled to secure an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. After weeks of trying to get the shot, Donna Durham finally got one last week.
“I’m disappointed with the people we trust, who are supposed to be there to help us and who are taking advantage of the situation. There just isn’t a word for it, ”she said.
Colon is accused of:
- 4 counts of forgery (F3) of $ 1,000 each
- 4 counts of Fake Instrument (F3) obligation of $ 1000 each
- 4 counts of falsifying medical records (M2) bail of $ 250 each
- 1 official misconduct count (F3) bond of $ 1,000 each
- 1 count of criminal use of a personal identity document (F3) Bond of $ 1,000 each
- 2 counts of creating a fictitious identity card (F3) of $ 1,000 each
He was released after posting bail and resigned from Polk County Fire Rescue. Damiano is currently the subject of a criminal investigation. He has worked for Polk Fire Rescue for 17 years and captain for 14 years.
“We’ll talk to him late tonight or in the morning, he might as well go and surrender. You can run but you can’t hide,” Judd said.
Polk Fire Rescue Paramedic Arrested for Stolen COVID-19 Vaccine Vials | Press conference
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