Former paramedic accused of taking drugs meant for patients

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A former long-time Lancaster County paramedic is accused of taking drugs that were meant for his patients.

Greg Robinson, 51, is charged with possession of a controlled substance. The arrest warrant alleges that from December 2011 to early January 2012, Robinson took 10 vials of morphine from a locked cabinet in a supervisor's office at the main EMS station on Pageland Highway.

The warrant says that three of those vials were later found in Robinson's office, empty.

Robinson turned himself in Thursday after a SLED investigation that lasted more than six months.

"An outstanding employee.  You just hate to see it," said Lancaster County administrator Steve Willis. Willis said Robinson had worked for the county since 1984, and was honored by the state of South Carolina at least three times as paramedic of the year.

"We learned of the allegations shortly after he retired," Willis said.

Robinson left his job at the county Jan. 1 of this year. According to the warrant, it appears the incidents took place within the last few days of his employment.

On Friday afternoon, EMS employees told Channel 9 they were not allowed to comment on Robinson's arrest.

The EMS department has had a rocky relationship with Lancaster County officials over the past few years.

There have been three different directors since 2008, and Robinson had filled in as interim director.

There was also a lawsuit filed against the county in 2010 over how paramedics were paid overtime.

Because Robinson was a county employee, SLED agents handled the investigation and made the arrest.

Robinson is out of jail on a $20,000 bond.

WSOC