Paramedic Joshua Colon, 31, is accused of falsifying the investigation into vaccine and consent forms for three missing doses, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told a news conference on Tuesday. Colon told detectives he was covering up for a supervisor, Judd said.
According to an affidavit by the sheriff’s office, Colon received three vials with ten doses of each vaccine on January 6 and was instructed to administer them to firefighters. Initial reactions received by the vaccine must complete and sign selection and consent forms, which are collected by the people administering the vaccine, the extract says.
At the end of the day, Colon was missing information for some doses.
Colon told officials he would get the missing information, and reported three names he said were of firefighters who were recipients, the extract from the statement read. Two told investigators they had never received the vaccine, and the third name was not a real person, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
When Deputy Colon met this week, he allegedly admitted that he had created and signed the three forms himself and, according to the news release, admitted that they were fictitious.
He told delegates a supervisor had “joked” with him about receiving a vaccine for the supervisor’s mother, according to the news release.
“According to Colon, he refused to supply the vaccines to the supervisor, and at that point, the supervisor said he would inform those higher up in the commando chain that Colon was selling vaccines outside of work,” the news release read.
“What happened was that there were three syringes with three doses of the vaccine that Joshua Colon put in a plastic bag, put in a special fridge and sealed it. Then he, under the guidance of (the supervisor) , took a breather, “Judd said.
When Colon returned, the seal was broken and the vaccines were gone, Judd said, adding that Colon then “made up the stories and the false documents” to offset the missing doses.
‘It’s a matter of public trust’
His lawyer, David R. Carmichael, said in a statement to CNN that Colon “experienced a very difficult situation when a supervisor demanded that Mr Colon provide unauthorized doses of Covid vaccine … for use by the supervisor’s family. . “
Carmichael said Colon refused to do so and again refused when the supervisor recommended that he cover up missing doses of vaccines by saying it was wasted.
“The supervisor then threatened to tell people that Mr Colon had offered to sell the vaccine to the supervisor, so he only had to give it to the supervisor or run the chance of being discharged. Mr Colon again refused. “,” said the lawyer. When his client returned, the vaccine doses were missing, he said.
Colon tried to contact his principal, but he found out he was no longer in town and, fearing retaliation, covered up the missing doses, Carmichael said.
According to Judd, two doses were later recovered in the supervisor’s car. They were not viable, said Polk County Fire Chief Robert Weech.
“The bottom line is that Joshua was trying to give the (supervisor) coverage,” Judd said. “Joshua set the circumstances for the vaccines to be stolen. If only Joshua had gone to his boss at the time, he would have been the hero.”
According to the sheriff, Colon was charged with four counts of forgery, four counts of rejecting a forged instrument, four counts of forging medical records, two counts of creating a fictitious personal ID, as well as criminal use of personal ID. and official misconduct. news release.
The release was released on release, and the investigation – including what role the supervisor may have played – continues.
“This is a matter of public confidence, we take it seriously,” Weech told the news conference. “We had a special duty, and that was to deliver the vaccine to the first responders who were there to help the public.”
Colon resigned from the department, Weech said. The sheriff said they would also talk to the supervisor.
CNN reached out to Colon for comment. His lawyer said Colon ‘deeply regrets his weakness by not warning the Commandant’s chain about the theft of the vaccine, accepts responsibility for his mistake in disguising the theft, and in an attempt to tarnish the reputation of his agency to protect, he resigned position. “
“I only have one question for them,” the sheriff said at the news conference. “What did you think?”