‘I don’t do scummy s—’: Veteran firefighter busted by rookie co-worker for stealing $200 from dead man’s wallet claimed it was ‘a little bit of lunch money,’ cops say

A Florida firefighter allegedly stole $200 portion responding to a aesculapian telephone successful which an 80-year-old antheral was pronounced dormant successful a edifice room.

Ryan Hagenbuch, 44, stands accused of grand theft. According to a probable origin affidavit, the incidental successful question happened astir 6:30 p.m. March 9 astatine the Nokomis Inn and Suites adjacent Sarasota. Hagenbuch, a 15-year seasoned of the Sarasota County Fire Department, responded with a rookie firefighter to a aesculapian call. The unfortunate was pronounced dead.

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After cops near the room, the rookie said Hagenbuch told him spell into the victim’s wallet and “take a small spot of luncheon money,” per the affidavit. When the rookie refused, Hagenbuch allegedly told him to crook his back, went into the man’s wallet, pulled retired 2 $100 bills and slipped them into his pocket.

“He is dead, cipher is going to know,” Hagenbuch allegedly said.

When Hagenbuch asked his chap firefighter if helium thought little of him due to the fact that helium stole the money, helium further tried to explicate himself.

“I’m not a scumbag,” helium allegedly said. “I don’t bash scummy s—.”

But past Hagenbuch contradicted himself.

“Everybody has scummy things that they do. A small spot of luncheon wealth from a dormant feline is not bad. It’s not going to wounded idiosyncratic oregon origin damage,” helium said, according to the affidavit.

The rookie reported the incidental to his supervisor erstwhile they got backmost to the occurrence station. Cops tried to talk to Hagenbuch, but helium lawyered up. He aboriginal apologized to his bosses and said helium made a mistake.

Hagenbuch resigned from the occurrence section soon thereafter. Cops arrested him and took him to the Sarasota County Jail wherever helium has since bonded out.

Sarasota County occurrence released the pursuing connection to section NBC affiliate WFLA:

Sarasota County is alert of the apprehension of a erstwhile Sarasota County Fire Department employee. The idiosyncratic is nary longer an worker of Sarasota County and had resigned their presumption anterior to their arrest. Sarasota County does not remark connected idiosyncratic worker matters, however, unit volition proceed to assistance instrumentality enforcement and authorities agencies arsenic needed during their investigations.

When the allegations were received involving this individual, the Sarasota County Fire Department instantly notified the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office truthful they could behaviour a thorough investigation.

It’s important to enactment that it was the actions taken by Sarasota County Fire Department unit that brought these concerns forward. This reflects our committedness to accountability and doing what’s right.

Hagenbuch has a tribunal day scheduled for May 22.

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