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Feds: Wash. medic stole morphine, replaced with other drugs

He faces federal charges after stealing from the department for at least two months

Seattlepi

SEATTLE — A South King County Medic One paramedic accused of swapping morphine with Benadryl and other drugs to feed his addiction now faces federal charges.

Paramedic Paul Ahrens is alleged to have stolen morphine and other high-strength pain medication from Medic One stocks for his own use. Federal prosecutors in Seattle claim Ahrens replaced the missing medicine with other drugs, which could’ve been injected into patients in pain.

Investigators contend the drug thefts continued on for at least two months. Ahrens, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent said in court papers, acted with “conscious or deliberate indifference” to the harm his actions could cause.

Read full story: Feds: Medic One paramedic swapped morphine with other drugs to feed addiction