A pair of Florida paramedics have been arrested after engaging in a “selfie war” competition that used patients under their care as “props.” The game included holding open one patient’s eyelid and exposing a private area of an elderly woman. Many of the victims were unconscious at the time the photos were taken.
Kayla Renee Dubois, 24, and Christopher Wimmer, 33, were arrested by deputies and charged with multiple felonies. Authorities identified a total of 41 patients used in the game ranging from ages 24-86.
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“Many patients were intubated, sedated, or otherwise unconscious at the time,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley’s office Facebook page. “The defendants exchanged texts challenging each other to produce more selfies and to ‘step up’ their game.”
Dubois faces two charges of interception and disclosure of oral communications, a felony, and Wimmer faces seven counts of the same charge plus a charge of misdemeanor battery because he allegedly posed while holding open a patient’s eyelid.
He also posed with elderly woman with her breast exposed, the sheriff’s office said.
Ashley’s office started investigating the case in May after getting complaints from other emergency system employees, who had also received the texts with pictures and videos. Investigators identified a total of 41 patients who were props in the game, three of whom apparently gave their permission, the sheriff’s office said.
Nineteen of the other patients are female, 17 are male, ranging in age from 24-86, and two have died, the office said. h/t fox2now
Dubois was relieved of duty and Wimmer resigned in May.