Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Drugs From Ambulances
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
Christopher M. Buckner, 37, Syracuse, pleaded guilty to a total of 11 felony charges Tuesday, admitting to stealing Demerol, Fentanyl, morphine and Valium, all powerful painkillers. In some cases, Buckner replaced the drugs with saline to avoid being caught. He faces several counts of theft, distribution of a substance represented to be a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.[[In-content Ad]]Buckner, who was arrested in December, was a part-time paramedic at Parkview Huntington Hospital. He also worked full time with the North Webster EMS.
An investigation of Buckner's possible involvement with stealing the drugs started in Huntington in August when hospital officials discovered someone may have tampered with drug boxes on ambulances.
After initially denying stealing the drugs, Buckner admitted his addiction to the painkillers, saying it started when he injured his back and was prescribed narcotic drugs.
Buckner reportedly told investigators he would take drugs out of the boxes for legitimate reasons, then keep the bottles until he returned to the station. Once there, he said he would use a syringe to withdraw the drugs from the vials.
North Webster conducted a similar investigation, but closed the case after learning that other ambulance services were having problems with broken seals because of a manufacturing defect.
Buckner was fired after admitting his crime to investigators.
Christopher M. Buckner, 37, Syracuse, pleaded guilty to a total of 11 felony charges Tuesday, admitting to stealing Demerol, Fentanyl, morphine and Valium, all powerful painkillers. In some cases, Buckner replaced the drugs with saline to avoid being caught. He faces several counts of theft, distribution of a substance represented to be a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.[[In-content Ad]]Buckner, who was arrested in December, was a part-time paramedic at Parkview Huntington Hospital. He also worked full time with the North Webster EMS.
An investigation of Buckner's possible involvement with stealing the drugs started in Huntington in August when hospital officials discovered someone may have tampered with drug boxes on ambulances.
After initially denying stealing the drugs, Buckner admitted his addiction to the painkillers, saying it started when he injured his back and was prescribed narcotic drugs.
Buckner reportedly told investigators he would take drugs out of the boxes for legitimate reasons, then keep the bottles until he returned to the station. Once there, he said he would use a syringe to withdraw the drugs from the vials.
North Webster conducted a similar investigation, but closed the case after learning that other ambulance services were having problems with broken seals because of a manufacturing defect.
Buckner was fired after admitting his crime to investigators.
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