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Only On ABC 6: Local Ambulance Employee Accused of Calling in Fake Emergencies

John Eagan

Story Created: May 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM EDT

Story Updated: May 20, 2008 at 12:29 PM EDT

     Picture this...a 911 call sends emergency crews out to save somebody.
     Except when the ambulance company arrives, there is no patient to be found.
     It turns out to be a prank phone call.
     Medtech Ambulance in Pawtucket says they recently received an emergency call from someone at a nursing and rehabilitation center.
     The caller requested a bariatric truck to transport a 650-pound patient, and that the patient had difficulty breathing and abdominal pains.
     Police say 25-year old Timothy Goodwin was the one who made the phony phone call.
     And he is an employee of Coastline Ambulance in Warwick!
     ABC 6 reporter Malini Basu has the details...

Friday, May 30 at 12:18 AM on the frontline... wrote ...

This guy has issues...Anyone can hear that....other than gas wasted...no harm was done. No one was hurt and the municipal staff was never led away from public emergent issues....The services assist in many public health issues...Mostly Acute Medical Care...Transport

Thursday, May 22 at 11:48 PM anonymous wrote ...

Working for a Healthcare Agency I would be careful to ask a person who would make prank phone calls of that nature to take care of my sick mother, brother or child. How can you fully trust this person? Sick people's lives are in a person like that's hands. Kind of scary.

Thursday, May 22 at 1:48 AM Daniel McKnight wrote ...

I battled for years in the Rhode Island private ambualnce trenches and think that the Med Tech interview was hilarious. Blown out of proportion was an understatement, though in the end it's indeed an unfortunate event. The way these companies operate is unheared of in other EMS communities, and New England Ambulance stood on probation from the DPH for years for service violations. It shouldn't of happened but the poster above me was 100% right. This is one of those "Judge not" situations.

Wednesday, May 21 at 9:04 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I worked in the private sector of RI EMS. While what Mr Goodwin did is not right, you have to realize that ambulance companies in RI do not respond to 911. Having said that, I will say that does not lessen the gravity of what he did. I just want to know how a paramedic for a major New England EMS service and a supervisor can think that pranking another ambulance is acceptable.

Wednesday, May 21 at 1:56 PM Someone who is always watching wrote ...

I feel that this has gotten blown way out of proportion and that everyone needs to take a step back and take a look at there self because we have all done something stupid. And as far as the other Ambulance companies they are no better them selves, because they have done worse, I know for a fact because I watch the news all the time and I seen everything, and I have worked for them so I know. So as they say, "Look before you leap."

Wednesday, May 21 at 8:27 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I hear theres an opening for supervisor at coastline...

Tuesday, May 20 at 9:52 PM dom wrote ...

This is silly I'm sure it just got blown out of proportion

Tuesday, May 20 at 2:46 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Try getting a job now stupid. I hear McDonald's is hiring for all shifts.

Tuesday, May 20 at 1:11 PM Julie Chaunt wrote ...

HAHA I'm from Warwick and I know his girlfriend. He's a moron for doing it. Guess they're breaking up now...

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