Mishawaka paramedic accused of scamming police, firefighters

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) - Authorities say a northern Indiana paramedic stole falsely claimed he needed money for cancer treatments to steal money from police officers and firefighters.

The South Bend Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1XjzqA4 ) 50-year-old Mishawaka paramedic Sam R. Young faces two counts of theft following his arrest Sunday. He is free on bond.

Court records say Young approached police officers and firefighters on multiple occasions and asked for loans but either wrote bad checks or put off repayments. They say a Mishawaka police officer got taken for $1,000 and a Mishawaka firefighter lost $800.

Mishawaka corporation counsel Geoff Spiess says Young has been suspended without pay indefinitely while city officials review the matter.

Young does not have a published telephone number and he could not be reached for comment.

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Information from: South Bend Tribune, http://www.southbendtribune.com