Polk paramedic charged with theft of COVID vaccine meant for first responders

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County paramedic was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing COVID-19 vaccines intended for first responders.

Detectives arrested 31-year-old Joshua Colon after they say he stole three vials of Moderna vaccine and falsified paperwork to make it look like the doses had been administered.

According to an arrest affidavit, on Jan. 6, Colon received three vials containing 10 doses each of the vaccine to be administered to first responders.

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Investigators say that Colon later reported that he administered 28 vaccines and that two had to be thrown away because of “time exposure prior to administering”

Later on, Colon said he administered 27 vaccines and three had to be thrown out.

Detectives said when Colon submitted paperwork he only provided 21 completed forms along with a log of 23 vaccine recipients.

READ: Seminole County doles out second COVID-19 vaccine shots as vaccine supplies dwindle.

According to the affidavit, when asked about the incomplete forms, Colon said he would obtain the information to complete the forms.

Investigators say of the three names Colon listed, two firefighters said that they had not gotten the vaccine and a third name was not listed as being associated with the department.

On Monday, in an interview with deputies, Colon admitted to creating the forms and adding the names to the log.

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Deputies arrested and charged Colon with four counts of forgery, four counts of falsifying medical records and one count of official misconduct.

Colon, who has resigned from Polk County Fire Rescue, was released on bond.

WFTV