By Mike McPhee
The Denver Post
DENVER — The state of Colorado has filed charges against a Wyoming man, accusing him of impersonating a paramedic and practicing medicine without a license.
Todd Teel, 40, is accused of forging a certificate that said he had completed the required 1,200 hours of training necessary to work in an ambulance as a paramedic. He also was charged with criminal impersonation of a paramedic. Both charges are felonies and carry sentences of up to five years. He also was charged with a misdemeanor of practicing medicine without a license.
“The practice of emergency medicine by uncertified individuals puts the sick and injured of Colorado at serious risk,” said Attorney General John Suthers, who announced the charges Wednesday.
He will be tried in Denver District Court, although the charges say he committed the crimes in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Denver counties. They allegedly took place between June 2006 and December 2007, when Teel was arrested.
Suthers said he knows of no person who was harmed while under Teel’s care.
Teel worked for American Medical Response of Greenwood Village. The Colorado department of health said the company failed to investigate Teel’s background and training, which would have shown he had not completed the training. He was certified as an emergency medical technician.
Teel has been living in Wyoming. His attorney is negotiating his surrender and posting of a $5,000 bond.