A Polk County fire rescue paramedic has been arrested for the theft of Modern COVID-19 vaccine vials, the sheriff’s office said.
Joshua Colon, 31, had just been named paramedic of the year in 2020, but on Monday was arrested for stealing the vaccine and falsifying detection and consent forms. Colon told detectives his supervisor had ordered him.
“It simply came to our notice then. Not only were we responsible for maintaining public confidence, but we had a special duty, which was to deliver the vaccine to the first lifeguards who are helping the public there, ”said fire rescue chief Robert Weech.
On January 6, Colon received three vials containing 10 vaccines each and was tasked with administering them to first responders.
Colon told deputies that his supervisor, Captain Anthony Damiano, joked with him to get some vaccines for Damiano’s mother. Colon said Damiano told him to report that these vaccines were 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 go on break for lunch later that day. The vaccines were left in the refrigerator with a label. When Colon returned to the station, he said he realized the label tab was tampered with and three shots were missing. He did not report this incident to anyone within Polk County Rescue of Fire.
Colon told lawmakers that when he was later asked to document the total number of doses administered, he created a fake name, email addresses and phone numbers, to prove each vaccine was counted.
“The bottom line is that Joshua tried to cover the captain. Joshua set up the circumstance for the vaccines to be stolen. If Joshua had just gone to his head at the time, he would have been the hero, ”said Sheriff Grady Judd.
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Meanwhile, many Polk County residents have had trouble getting an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. After weeks of trying to get vaccinated, Donna Durham finally got one last week.
“I am disappointed with the people we trust, who are supposed to help us and take advantage of the situation. There’s just no word, ”he said.
Colon charges:
- 4 counterfeit accounts (F3) of € 1,000 bail each
- 4 counts pronouncing a forged instrument (F3) of $ 1,000 bail each
- 4 charges of falsification of medical records (M2) of $ 250 bail each
- 1 official misconduct (F3) account of $ 1,000
- 1 account of criminal use of personal identification (F3) of $ 1,000 bail each
- 2 counts creating a fictitious personal identification (F3) of € 1,000 bail each
He was released after posting bail and has given up Polk County Fire Rescue. Damiano is currently under criminal investigation. He has been with Polk Fire Rescue for 17 years and captain for 14 years.
“We’ll talk to him late tonight or in the morning, maybe he’s going to give up. You can run but you can’t hide,” Judd said.
A Polk Fire Rescue paramedic arrested for theft of COVID-19 vaccine vials | Press conference