A Florida man named Paramedic of the Year 2020 has admitted to investigators that he played a role in the alleged theft of coronavirus vaccine doses, the sheriff in Polk County said Tuesday.
Joshua Colon, 21, was arrested on Monday on charges of forgery, fraud and misconduct after admitting to forging paperwork to cover a supervisor of three pre-filled syringes of the Modern Covid-19 vaccine. .
In a press conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said authorities noted that there were “inconsistencies” and “total confusion” over three different vaccine forms filled out by Colon, which on January 6 filled three full vials of the vaccine was given to administer. to first responders from Polk County.
Authorities contacted several of the names of vaccine recipients on the forms and found that it was former firefighters who said they had never received doses.
Judd said the Paramedic of the Year later “conceded” in 2020 and began collaborating with investigators, conceding that he used false names for “fraudulent” and “wrong” reasons.
Colon said he did so on the instructions of his supervisor, Polk County Fire Rescue Captain Anthony Damiano.
Colon told investigators Damiano joked that he wanted a vaccine for his mother and later threatened him when Colon would not give him the vaccine.
Damiano ordered Colon to take a breather, after which three pre-filled syringes disappeared from a sealed bag into a refrigerator.
“Colon advised that he not question his supervisor in connection with the missing vaccines, but he immediately became suspicious,” reads a statement from the sheriff in Polk County. “Colon did not report this incident to anyone within Polk County Fire Rescue.”
When asked to provide paperwork, Colon falsified the documents, saying he gave doses to people who never received them.
“The investigation is continuing, including the role of the supervisor in the theft of the vaccines and the creation of fraudulent and falsified medical records,” the Polk County sheriff said in the statement.
A spokesman for the sheriff’s office in Polk County reached by telephone Tuesday afternoon that the charges against Damiano were “on hand” and that he was free.
“The bottom line is that Joshua tried to cover up the captain. Joshua instituted the circumstances that the vaccines would be stolen. If Joshua had just gone to his boss, he would have been the hero, but instead he did the paperwork. “people who did not exist to disguise it,” Judd said at Tuesday’s press conference.
Colon resigned Friday and was arrested Monday.
Colon’s attorney David Carmichael said in a statement that he was facing a “very difficult situation” after his supervisor allegedly demanded that he provide the vaccines.
“Colon deeply regrets his weakness by not warning the Commandant’s chain about the theft of the vaccine, accepts responsibility for his mistake in concealing the theft, and in an effort to protect the reputation of his agency, he mail resigned., “Carmichael said.
