A local paramedic finds himself on the other side of the law.
He's charged with using drugs, intended for patients, on himself.
That's just one of the two battles the Genesee County Sheriff is waging.
One is for the paramedic, the other one is a matter of policy.
Paramedics use plastic boxes to transport drugs for patients, like pain-killers.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says, "The morphine and phenerol are used for specific purposes when paramedics respond to medical emergencies."
However, that's not what law enforcement says he did with it.
Detectives say, Rose would break the seal to the paramedic box, steal morphine and phenerol vials, suck out the drugs with a syringe, and replace it with saline solution.
Leyton says, "Had the sheriff's department not investigated this case, and not bring me the evidence, somebody, I assure you, would have died."
The sheriff's department says the DVA Emergency Service brought the matter to light and cooperated fully.
However, Sheriff Robert Pickell is calling out the Genesee County Medical Control Authority for its confidentiality policy, which the sheriff says, impeded the investigation and does more harm than good.
Pickell says, "These protocols and this confidentiality form, it really protects a paramedic and protects criminal behavior."
The medical control board says its policy is to protect the patient's privacy, not criminal behavior.
The sheriff is also upset because he says Michael Rose stole items while working as a Flint firefighter paramedic a few years ago, for which he was fired.
Now, he's accused of stealing pain-killers and putting patients at risk.
Pickell says, "There should be a higher standard, and he should be held accountable and to think you can go through a rehab program in 6 months and return concerns me."
The sheriff says, he's going to fight for a new policy, even if it means having state officials form a new law.
If convicted, Michael Rose faces 4 years in prison.
