HANCOCK COUNTY, Ind.–A former ambulance driver is accused of stealing fentanyl from fire departments in five Indiana counties.
Indiana State Police have arrested Jason Howard, 41, of Fishers.
Howard was an employee for SEALS Ambulance Service. Officers say at least 34 vials of Fentanyl were stolen from those fire departments.
The Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office filed two counts of possession of narcotics and two counts of theft against Howard. Hancock County is one of the counties where police believe Howard stole the fentanyl.
Probable cause affidavits have been submitted in the four other counties and are being looked at by each prosecutor’s office in that county. So far, no charges have been filed in those counties.
Fentanyl is an opioid which is used as a pain medication and together with other medications for anesthesia.
SEALS Ambulance released the following statement Monday evening:
Last month, Seals Ambulance’s internal audit and security procedures uncovered a possible drug diversion within its operations. Based upon internal investigation, the company identified the individual responsible. The individual is no longer an employee of Seals Ambulance, and we encouraged him to seek help for his addiction.
Opioid addiction is an epidemic across the country and has affected all levels of the health care industry. Seals Ambulance takes this issue very seriously and has extensive security measures in place to maintain proper control and access to narcotics.
Seals Ambulance identified the diversion through our security measures and took immediate action. Seals Ambulance is cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigations.
(PHOTO: RTV6)
