The sheriff’s office has arrested a paramedic at Polk County Fire Department.
Joshua Colon, 31, was named Paramedic of the Year in 2020, but was arrested on Monday for stealing the vaccine. Colon told detectives he was ordered by his supervisor to do so.
‘It’s absolutely disappointing. “We were not only responsible for the public’s trust, but we also had a special duty, and that was to deliver the vaccine to first responders out there, who help the public,” said Robert Weech, fire chief, said.
On January 6, Colon received three vials each containing 10 vaccines and was instructed to administer them to first responders.
Colon told delegates that his supervisor, Capt. Anthony Damiano, joked with him about the vaccination for Damiano’s mother. Colon said Damiano told him to report the vaccines as 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 he was ordered by Damiano later that day to go with his lunch. The vaccines were left in a refrigerator with a label tag. When Colon returned to the station, he said he noticed tampering with the label tab and that three vaccines were missing. He did not report this incident to anyone within Polk County Fire Rescue.
Colon told deputies that when he was later asked to document the total dose administered, he created a false name, email addresses and phone numbers to show that each vaccine was offset.
“The bottom line is that Joshua tried to cover up for the captain. Joshua determined the circumstances that the vaccines had been stolen. “If Joshua had just gone to his boss at the time, he would have been the hero,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
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Meanwhile, many Polk County residents have struggled to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. After weeks of trying to get vaccinated, Donna Durham finally got one last week.
‘I am disappointed in people who trust us, who are supposed to be here to help us and that they are taking advantage of the situation. There is just no word for it, ‘she said.
Colon is charged with:
- 4 counterfeit (F3) $ 1,000 bond each
- 4 counts rejecting counterfeit instrument (F3) $ 1,000 each
- 4 scores that falsified medical records (M2) $ 250 each
- 1 official misconduct (F3) of $ 1,000 each
- 1 counts criminal use of personal ID (F3) 1000 dollars each
- 2 counts the creation of fictitious personal ID (F3) each $ 1,000 mortgage
He was released after posting a bond and resigned from Polk County Fire Rescue. Damiano is currently under criminal investigation. He’s been at Polk Fire Rescue for 17 years and a captain for 14.
‘We’ll talk to him late tonight or late in the morning. He might as well go hand in himself. You can run, but you can not hide, ” Judd said.
Poledic Polk Fire Rescue arrested for theft of COVID-19 vaccine bottles | Press conference