By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A paramedic with the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Service has been suspended without pay following his arrest Friday in Nashville.
Roy J. Howard, 39, of Glasgow, was taken into custody by Nashville Metro Police on a felony fugitive from justice warrant issued by Kentucky law enforcement officials and was lodged in the Davidson County Correctional System on a $100,000 bond.
In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Barren-Metcalfe EMS director Mike Swift said Howard had been the subject of a joint internal review by T.J. Samson Community Hospital and the ambulance service on April 20. After the review, the Glasgow Police Department was notified to begin a criminal investigation into Howard’s actions.
GPD detectives found probable cause to execute a criminal complaint on April 25 alleging Howard had committed multiple felony violations by illegally obtaining and possessing controlled substances. Charges against Howard include criminal possession of a forged prescription, multiple counts of theft of a controlled substance and multiple counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, Schedule I or II narcotic.
“Pending the disposition of this case by the court, Mr. Howard has been suspended without pay by the Barren-Metcalfe County EMS,” Swift said in the release.
Swift had stated in Monday’s article of the Daily Times that Howard was no longer working for the ambulance service, but that was clarified Tuesday to mean because of the suspension.
Hospital representatives were unavailable for comment before press time Tuesday.
The police department may have additional information on the case later this week, according to public information officer Capt. Kent Keen.
During his career, Howard has served as a Kentucky State Trooper and a police officer for both Glasgow and Park City. He also worked in Park City at one time as the city clerk and city administrator.
Howard was scheduled for a hearing Monday at 9 a.m. in Davidson County Criminal Court for possible extradition back to Kentucky. A check of the correctional system’s current inmates online Tuesday morning revealed Howard was longer listed there.
