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Man accused of posing as EMT, stealing medical equipment indicted

Jesse Dedmon Taylor was charged with impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years in prison

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A Lubbock County grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment against Jesse Dedmon Taylor, charging him with impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

Photo/Lubbock County Detention Center

Gabriel Monte
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas — A 51-year-old Wolfforth man faces felony charges after investigators believe he falsely identified himself as an emergency medical services technician to obtain a piece of medical equipment from a hospital.

A Lubbock County grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment against Jesse Dedmon Taylor, charging him with impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

Taylor’s charge stems from a Lubbock police investigation into a May 22 theft report at University Medical Center.

An employee called police after learning that a man, later identified as Taylor, posing as an EMT stole an automated external defibrillator, a device used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest.

The employee said she and another employee were approached by Taylor, who was wearing a badge and credentials that indicated he worked for Wolfforth EMS. She said Taylor requested the defibrillator to replace the one taken by “the school.”

The employee, who was married to the director of Wolfforth EMS, said she believed Taylor worked for her husband and gave him the equipment, the warrant states.

However, Taylor returned to the hospital but was stopped by security, who called the employee. The employee spoke to Taylor who was requesting another defibrillator, this time for Wolfforth ISD. The employee refused the request and called her husband to confirm if Taylor worked for him. She said her husband denied Taylor was an employee and said he was “trouble,” the warrant states.

The employee called 911 and reported the stolen property. However, Taylor was not at the scene when police arrived.

It was not the first time Taylor is accused of impersonating a public servant.

On May 23, a Lubbock police officer pulling up to the police academy reported that a man later identified as Taylor flagged him down claiming to be a Secret Service agent and asked about the vehicle the academy uses for pit maneuver training. The officer told Taylor they didn’t use the vehicle. He said Taylor thanked him and left.

Later that day, Taylor reportedly called the police department and spoke with a police officer for about 30 minutes.

Taylor told the officer that he was sent by the Wolfforth Fire Department to go to area hospitals to collect medical equipment. He said he was a volunteer firefighter about 10 years ago.

At some point during the conversation, Taylor reportedly told the officer that he suffered a traumatic brain injury after an electrical shock in 2019.

He also reportedly admitted to going to the police academy because he wanted to look at police vehicles. He said he spoke to officers there but did not identify himself to them.

A warrant for Taylor’s arrest was issued on May 24, and he was arrested the same day.

He was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center where he remains. His bond is set at $25,000.

Jail records indicate there is also a U.S. Marshals hold on him.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Man accused of posing as Wolfforth EMT, stealing medical equipment indicted

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