Stolen Drugs

[Dave1983]

More bad news for Clearwater FD.


Medic accused of taking drug to feed habit

Authorities say the 18-year Clearwater veteran admits he stole two vials of fentanyl from a fire station for his addiction related to back pain.

Full story here:

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/21/Northpinellas/Medic_accused_of_taki.shtml

[firenresq77]

It's happened here before. We had a guy who got addicted to painkillers after getting hurt on the job....... Never stole drugs from us, but did steal a few checks and a couple other things to get money to get his fix...... It's a shame....... Some good FF's get ruined by the stuff......

[captstanm1]

Tampa Tribune

Paramedic Accused Of Narcotics Theft

Published: May 21, 2005


CLEARWATER - A 44-year- old paramedic was arrested Friday, accused of stealing narcotics from a fire department substation on Sand Key, Clearwater police said.
The arrest of Darren Keith came 11 days after he resigned from Clearwater Fire & Rescue as an investigation into the matter got under way, city spokesman Doug Matthews said.

Keith was charged with one count of theft of a controlled substance. He was released from Pinellas County Jail after posting $5,000 bail, a jail spokeswoman said.

According to a jail affidavit, Keith was working as a paramedic March 27 when he used a syringe to empty two vials of fentanyl, a pain reliever.

Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said Keith replaced the fentanyl with saline and then falsely told co- workers he found the vials tampered with, which meant they were disposed of and would not be used on any patients.

There is no evidence Keith had switched out any other narcotics during his 19 years with fire rescue, Shelor said.

[BFDLT32]

It happened locally several years ago. Seems that one of the medics became addicted to Nitrous Oxide. Several bottles aweek. He was finally caught and terminated after he denied his involvement. He was even offered EAP and did not take it.

Long career down the drain for such a STUPID reason.