EMS employee facing theft charges

Published 12:06 pm Tuesday, August 19, 2014

CHESAPEAKE — A paramedic with the Lawrence County EMS has been terminated for cause following charges filed against her for theft.

Sharleen Hemminger, 23, pleaded not guilty to fourth degree felony charges of theft without consent in Lawrence County Municipal Court on Friday.

Hemminger allegedly took drugs and other items from the EMS station in Chesapeake and kept them in a personal medical bag in her own car.

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On July 30, Buddy Fry, director of the EMS, and sheriff’s detective Aaron Bollinger met with Hemminger, according to the detective’s report.

“I advised her of the allegations that she kept injectable medications in a personal bag in her vehicle to include Zofran and Dextrose IV bags,” Bollinger wrote in his report.

“Sharleen adamantly denied that and said it would be illegal for her to have possessions of the drugs in her personal bag and car.”

Hemminger allowed Bollinger to examine her medical beg.

“There were no medications or IV bags located in the large red bag,” Bollinger reported. “Sharleen stated that she felt she has been targeted from administration because they had fired her fiancé. I explained to Sharleen that the allegations were made from a coworker who stated that they witnessed the theft and possession of drugs.

“Sharleen then stated that someone probably saw her enter the drug room to restock the ambulance medical supply. Sharleen stated that one time she had both of her hands full and stuck a vial of Zofran in her pants pocket to carry it to the ambulance,” according to Bollinger.

Then Bollinger and Fry asked Hemminger if they could look in her car for another medical bag.

“I asked Sharleen if she would show me a medium and small red bag that were in the front passenger seat, which she indicated were her makeup bag,” Bollinger’s report stated.

The detective then states that Hemminger allegedly took something from the bag and put it under the front passenger seat.

“I looked under the seat and witnessed several vials of injectable medication,” Bollinger stated. “I advised it was Zofran.”

In both bags was allegedly a syringe of Zofran, alcohol swabs, IV needles, six vials of Zofran, one vial of benadryl, one vial of a steroid, one vial of ephinephrine, two IV packs of Dextrose, saline flushes and four IV bags of sodium chloride, according to Bollinger.

That day she was placed on administrative leave by Fry. On Thursday she was terminated from the EMS.

Hemminger is being represented by Derick Fisher, according to the county municipal court. A pre-trial has been set for Sept. 5.