A Florida paramedic was praised a few weeks ago as the best in his field for his role in stealing three doses of coronavirus vaccine, the sheriff said.
Joshua Colon, a 31-year-old paramedic and training officer from Polk County Fire Rescue, was arrested Monday on charges of forgery, official misconduct, rejection of a forged instrument and criminal use of a personal ID, the sheriff’s officials announced Tuesday.
Colon, who resigned Friday, allegedly helped a captain steal three doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and then falsify processing and consent forms. He later told detectives he was instructed to do so by his supervisor – who “joked” with him that day to get vaccinations for his mother, according to a statement from arrest.
According to the Polk County Police Department, an investigation is underway into the alleged role of Colon’s supervisor in the theft.
But the capt. Polk County Fire Chief Anthony Damiano will also be arrested when he returns from an assignment in California, the Tampa Bay Times reported, citing a Tuesday news conference hosted by Sheriff Grady Judd and Robert Weech, fire chief, was held.
Less than two weeks before his arrest, Colon was honored by a group of local nonprofit civic clubs as the “Paramedic of the Year” in 2020 for outstanding service to the community, including his performance during a serious wreck with several vehicles on ‘ a state road.
Colon was charged after an investigation into his alleged conduct on January 6 while administering vaccines to first responders at a fire station in Davenport.
Colon later admitted that he forged paperwork during an interview with delegates and said he used the identities of two firefighters and a fictitious name on the selection and consent forms – which he signed, the statement said.
Judd said Tuesday that Colon told investigators Damiano asked him to get doses for Damiano’s mother. Colon initially refused, but his supervisor threatened to tell the department buyer that he was selling doses while he was not on duty, according to a statement from arrest.
Later that day, Damiano Colon ordered to take his lunch and the paramedic noticed three missing vaccines when he returned, authorities said.
“Colon advised that he did not question his supervisor regarding the missing vaccines, but he immediately became suspicious,” the statement continues. “Colon did not report this incident to anyone within Polk County Fire Rescue.”
Colon later admitted to forging three vaccine-related consent forms, with fake email addresses and a fictitious name in the process. He was released from custody after posting a bond, the sheriff said.
The Tampa Bay Times, Damiano, a 17-year-old veterinarian, is likely to be charged with theft and official misconduct.
Judd said Colon Damiano called from his attorney’s office when deputies watched the call and the captain said the missing doses were in a car parked outside a friend’s home in St. Louis. Cloud stood.
Two of the recovered doses are no longer usable, while the third has not been found, the newspaper reported.
“The bottom line is that Joshua tried to disguise the captain,” Judd told reporters Tuesday. ‘Joshua determined the circumstances that the vaccines would be stolen. If Joshua had just gone to his boss at the time, he would have been the hero. Instead, he started falsifying paperwork and making up people who did not exist, to disguise it. ”