An addiction coupled with ready access to the addictive substance can be a dangerous combination. The Marion County prosecutor’s office filed several drug crime charges against a 30-year-old woman who allegedly stole fentanyl from an ambulance and used the drugs herself.
The suspect was employed as a medical technician by a local hospital and was working as a paramedic. The alleged theft was discovered through the review of ambulance supply checks. The amount of narcotics carried in an ambulance must be entered into a continuing log that shows the full amount carried and the amount remaining after a trip during which the drugs were used. A discrepancy in the logs for the ambulance alerted investigators to a possible theft. The EMS supervisor at the hospital shared the drug audit information with the Indianapolis office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, who passed it along to Indianapolis police.
According to the police’s partial cause affidavit issued in support of the application for an arrest warrant, the suspect would allegedly administer partial doses of fentanyl to patients and then keep the partially filled vial instead of disposing of it. She also allegedly altered vials to conceal the thefts. The defendant was charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit and possession of a narcotic drug.
The charges in this case will have serious consequences for the defendant if she is convicted. She could permanently lose her license as a paramedic, face several years in jail and be required to pay a significant fine. Anyone facing similar charges may wish to consult an experienced criminal attorney for advice on the facts and law that will govern the case and for an estimate of the likelihood of obtaining either a favorable plea agreement or an acquittal.
Source: Fox 59, “Indianapolis paramedic charged with stealing, using drugs from ambulance,” Zach Myers, Feb. 14, 2018
