KTVU Fox 2: San Jose fire captain arraigned for narcotics theft
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Jose Fire Department captain was charged with stealing narcotics meant for emergency patients. He will be arraigned in court on Monday afternoon.
A 22-year veteran of the department, 45-year-old Mark Moalem is alleged to have tampered with and taken vials of painkillers and sedatives from department fire engines. He was arrested last month for burglary at a fire station, endangering a child and narcotics violations.
If found guilty, Moalem faces time in prison.
"The community puts their lives in the hands of first responders during emergencies," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. "There is no excuse for violating the trust and safety of Santa Clara County residents."
A search warrant of Moalem's residence revealed a large quantity of needles, six SJFD vial caps for morphine, four SJFD vial caps of midazolam and four bags of IV saline solution, of which three appeared to have been used.