EMT arrested for taking patients’ medications
An EMT with a local ambulance service was arrested last week after he was accused of taking prescription medications from patients he helped transport, officials said.
Matt Britton, 31, 3931 Franklin 524, Russellville, was arrested on two counts of second-degree theft of property and two counts of attempt to commit a controlled substance crime, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.
According to Hargett, Britton was an emergency medical technician at Pleasant Bay Ambulance Service, located in Russellville.
Hargett said Britton was accused of taking medications such as Xanax and hydrocodone from patients who were being transported on medical calls.
“We had received some complaints from people who reported that medication had come up missing after they were transported in the ambulance,” Hargett said.
“After receiving the complaints, we launched an investigation that led to an eye witness statement and other evidence.”
Hargett said a witness had allegedly watched Britton take medications from a patient while on a call.
Company officials confirmed Britton, who has been with the company for two years on both part-time and full-time basis, had been placed on unpaid leave and his license has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
