Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
Copyright 2006 The Austin American-Statesman
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Police have seized more than $40,000 in medical equipment stolen from ambulances at local hospitals last month.
A search warrant issued Friday morning for 20-year-old Ryan Paul Levihn-Coon yielded the stolen medical supplies, which included a $27,000 cardiac monitor, IV bags, medication and a ventilator. Levihn-Coon is not in custody, but Cmdr. Harold Piatt of the organized crime unit said the unit will arrest him soon and he is not a flight risk. He could face second-degree felony charges, Piatt said.
Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Cmdr. Jason Martin said Levihn-Coon is a former paramedic who was employed by Austin-Travis County EMS for three days in January and quit. Martin said many prescription painkillers were missing from the recovered supplies and all the medications and IV bags recovered will be replaced to prevent possible contamination.
Medics in right place, right time
A fire Friday in South Austin was extinguished by three members of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services who were working nearby, emergency officials said.
Paramedics H. Thomas, Jay Paladino and John Constantino were responding to a minor medical emergency about 4:35 a.m. at the Alpine Grove Apartments near St. Edward’s University when they noticed a fire burning on the second-floor landing, according to an Austin Fire Department news release.
They extinguished the small fire, then directed a resident inside to exit the apartment, which had filled with smoke. The man, who has not been identified, was carried to safety and taken to Brackenridge Hospital for possible smoke inhalation.
The original medical call, in another apartment, was handled by a second EMS unit.
“It is quite probable, given the time of the call, that the fire would have become much bigger,” said Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations George Blackmore in the release. “The quick action of the Medic Crew almost certainly averted a tragedy.”
Fire investigators have ruled the fire accidental and say it was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. It caused $5,000 worth of damage to the building’s exterior.