Police: EMT steals $40 from patient who suffered heart attack, died

PALATKA, Fla. – A Putnam County emergency medical technician has resigned after he admitted taking $40 from the wallet of a man in cardiac arrest who later died.

William Curtis is charged with petit theft.

Recommended Videos



The heart attack patient was brought to Putnam Community Medical Center on Thursday, and two nurses began assessing his condition, according to Palatka police. One nurse removed the man's wallet to get an ID, and the money in the wallet was counted and logged.

One of the nurses saw Curtis putting some bills in his pocket, and when the wallet was checked, it was short $40, police said.

Officers said Curtis admitted the theft to the Emergency Medical Services director, returned $20 and then resigned.