Former Centerton firefighter accused of stealing morphine from department pleads not guilty
CENTERTON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former Centerton firefighter accused of stealing morphine from the department pleaded not guilty on Monday, according to court documents.
Michael Brown, 31, was arrested on Feb. 16 on forgery and drug fraud charges, according to his booking.
Centerton Fire Chief Matt Thompson confirmed to KNWA/FOX24 that Brown was fired on the same day.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Thompson contacted the police department on Feb. 16 regarding narcotics missing from one of the ambulances.
Thompson said he was doing counts of the controlled substances in an ambulance and noted a vial containing 10 milligrams of morphine was missing.
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He discovered that Brown, a paramedic/firefighter, was the last person to log into the safe lock boxes where narcotics are stored, according to the affidavit. The time stamps on access logs showed Brown opened the lock boxes before leaving work early.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department went to Brown’s home in Springdale to speak with him.
Brown claimed he gave a patient two milligrams of morphine after a motor vehicle collision but allowed her to sign a refusal. He told police he didn’t document the incident because he thought he would get in trouble, according to the affidavit.
A detective told Brown he would speak with the patient to confirm the story and Brown then said he hadn’t given her the medication. Brown said he had pulled up the drug anticipating he would give it but discarded it.
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Brown then told the detective he had signed the logs that morning after replacing the missing drugs.
The detective asked Brown if he had a problem and Brown admitted he did. Brown then told the detective he had gone to the emergency room for abdominal issues and used the missing morphine.
Brown has an omnibus hearing scheduled for August 13.
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