[ad_1]
A Wisconsin pharmacist accused of deliberately destroying vials of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is a dish-Earther and “ very committed to conspiracy theories, ” his colleagues say.
Steven Brandenburg, 46, reportedly told a colleague at Advocate Aurora Health Systems that the sky “ is a shield put up by the government to prevent people from seeing God. ”
He was arrested by officers from the Grafton Police Department on Dec. 31 and has since been the subject of an FBI investigation, according to a warrant request obtained by Daily Beast.
Steven Brandenburg, 46, allegedly told colleague about his beliefs in conspiracy theories before tampering with the Moderna vaccine pack
The vaccines, which were not tampered with in addition to being taken out of a refrigerator, were given to at least 57 patients
Brandenburg, left, has since been fired from his job and faces up to 10 years in prison
Brandenburg, a pharmacist at the hospital pharmacy, has been charged with recklessly endangering first-degree safety, tampering with a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property.
Federal authorities allege the pharmacist deliberately removed a box containing the vials from a refrigerator knowing it could ruin the vaccine – which was then given to at least 57 patients.
Dr Jeff Bahr, chairman of the Aurora Health Care medical group, said there was “ no evidence ” Brandenburg tampered with the vaccine in any way other than taking it out of the fridge.
A warrant application to search the Brandenburg iPhone, laptop and USB drive has been filed in federal court by FBI Special Agent Lindsay Schloemer.
The warrant shows that hospital investigators interviewed a colleague from Brandenburg named Sarah Sticker – who allegedly discovered that the vaccine box had been tampered with and reported it.
“ The sticker immediately suspected Brandenburg of removing the vaccine from the refrigerator due to his vocal beliefs against the vaccine, ” the warrant reads.
Brandenburg explained to Sticker that he doesn’t think the coronavirus is real and that he thinks the vaccine is going to harm people. ”
Investigators questioned a technician named Sarah Sticker who allegedly denounced Brandenburg
Sticker told investigators Brandenburg is “ very committed to conspiracy theories ” and believes the vaccine is “ microchipped ” to disable birth control in some people while rendering others sterile.
“ Sticker said Brandenburg had been voicing his theories for months at work to anyone who wanted to listen to him, ” the warrant reads.
“Some of the conspiracy theories Brandenburg told Sticker about included: the earth is flat; the sky is not real, rather it is a shield erected by the government to prevent individuals from seeing God; and the Day of Judgment is approaching.
Brandenburg admitted to investigators that he had tampered with the vaccine vials and explained that he believed the Moderna vaccine “ could hurt people and was not safe to administer, ” according to the warrant.
“ My actions were inexcusable and I deeply apologize for the harm I have caused, ” Brandburg said in an email to hospital investigators documented in the warrant.
Brandenburg, pictured, reportedly said the sky was a ‘government-put-up shield’ to prevent people from seeing God
Brandburg then entered a litany of explanations for his behavior in removing vaccines from their refrigerator.
“ This is no excuse, but I have been under tremendous pressure in my life over the past two weeks and the past 6 months, ” Brandenburg wrote in the email, noting a “ divorce very controversial ” and a separation from his children.
“ For the past two weeks, I have functioned with little to no sleep alternating with too much sleep taking prescribed clonazepam when the lack of sleep was too much to bear. ”
Clonazepam, also known by its brand name Klonopin, is used to treat seizures, panic disorder, and anxiety.
The pharmacist was also questioned by the Grafton Police Department, who recorded the interview with a body camera and admitted “ he’s a conspiracy theorist, ” according to the warrant.
“Brandenburg noted that he has been interested in conspiracy theories for the past 7 years and is speaking out on his beliefs at work,” the warrant said.
Sticker also told investigators that Brandenburg carried a .45 caliber handgun to work “ in case the military comes and takes him away. ”
Gretchen Brandenburg, his wife, said in court documents on December 30 that he had storage units full of “ bulk food and guns. ”
“I was so concerned about my safety and the safety of the children that I left town for a while,” Gretchen wrote in documents obtained by WISN.
Gretchen also told the judge that Brandenburg believed the “ government is planning cyber attacks and considering shutting down the power grid, ” according to the outlet.
Brandenburg has since been fired from its job and faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $ 250,000 on each count after agreeing to plead guilty to two counts of attempted falsification of consumer products with reckless contempt.
[ad_2]
Source link