A Polk County Fire Rescue paramedic has been arrested in the theft of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials, the sheriff’s office said.
Joshua Colon, 31, was just named Paramedic of the Year in 2020, but was arrested Monday for stealing the vaccine and falsifying the screening and consent forms. Colon told the detectives that he had been ordered to do so by his supervisor.
“It’s absolutely disappointing. Not only were we responsible for public confidence, but we had a special job and that was to deliver the vaccine to the emergency responders who help the public, ”said Fire Chief Robert Weech.
On January 6, Colon received three vials containing 10 vaccines each and was ordered to administer them to emergency responders.
Colon told delegates that his supervisor Captain Anthony Damiano was joking with him about getting vaccines for Damiano’s mother. Colon said Damiano told him to report those vaccines as trash. 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 have lunch later that day. The vaccines were stored in a refrigerator with a label tab. When Colon returned to the station, he said he had noticed that the label had been tampered with and that three vaccines were missing. He has not reported this incident to anyone within Polk County Fire Rescue.
Colon told delegates that when later asked to document the total number of doses administered, he created a false name, email addresses, and telephone numbers to demonstrate that each vaccine was accountable.
Basically, Joshua tried to cover the captain. Joshua made sure the vaccines were stolen. If Joshua had just gone to his boss at the time, he would have been the hero, ”said Sheriff Grady Judd.
MORE POLK COUNTY HEADLINES
Meanwhile, many Polk County residents are struggling to get 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 the people we trust, who should help us and who are taking advantage of the situation. There’s just no word for it, ”she said.
Colon is in charge of:
- 4 each counterfeit (F3) counts $ 1,000 bond
- 4 count express each counterfeit instrument (F3) $ 1,000 bond
- 4 forging medical records (M2) counts $ 250 deposit each
- 1 count of official misconduct (F3) $ 1,000 deposit each
- 1 count criminal use of personal ID (F3) $ 1,000 deposit each
- Creating a fictitious personal ID (F3) 2 counts $ 1,000 deposit each
He was released after posting a bond and resigned from Polk County Fire Rescue. Damiano is currently under a criminal investigation. He has been with Polk Fire Rescue for 17 years and as a captain for 14 years.
“We’ll talk to him late tonight or late in the morning, he might as well go and turn himself in. You can run, but you can’t hide, ”Judd said.
Polk Fire Rescue Paramedic Arrested in theft of COVID-19 Vaccine Vials | Press conference