N.C. Fire Captain Resigns After Stealing Narcotics

Aug. 30--A Charlotte Fire Department captain has resigned instead of being fired after admitting he stole a prescription drug while assisting MEDIC on a patient transport, fire officials said.

Capt. Charlie David Morris Jr., 49, admitted to the theft on Wednesday, the day after he'd assisted on the call, fire officials said.

Police obtained a warrant on Morris for misdemeanor larceny, and Morris on Friday afternoon turned himself in to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.

While emergency crews were inside a home on Broken Pine Lane assisting the patient, seven Dilaudid prescription pills belonging to the patient were taken, police said. The home is in north Charlotte.

MEDIC later received a phone call from a family member of the patient who reported the missing pills.

The Charlotte Fire Department immediately notified Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, and statements were taken from all fire department employees who responded to the home, fire officials said. Drug tests and polygraph examinations were scheduled for their next work day.

"The Charlotte Fire Department values the trust that the public places in our organization to respond to their homes and businesses," Fire Chief Jon Hannan said in a statement. "An event such as this diminishes our public trust, and this is something we do not take lightly.

"We hold all our employees to a high standard, and immediate action was taken following the allegation," the chief said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

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