OCSO arrests medics for selfie war

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 22, 2016

A selfie war has lead to two Okaloosa County paramedics being arrested and a total of five employees losing their jobs.

The OCSO held a news conference Thursday in correlation with the investigation.

According to the OCSO, two former Okaloosa County EMS paramedics were arrested for allegedly using their cell phones to take selfies with patients and videos inside ambulances for their own amusement as part of a selfie war competition.

Police say that many of the 41 patients were intubated, sedated or otherwise unconscious at the time.

Two of the patients are now deceased and three appeared to be consensual.

Of the remaining 36 patients, 19 are female and 17 are male. Ages range from 24 to 86 and five are homeless.

The investigation began on May 13 after the department of public safety learned of the allegations from three other EMS employees a week earlier, began an immediate internal investigation, and then requested a criminal investigation.

Kayla Renee Dubois, 24, of Navarre is charged with two counts of interception and disclosure of oral communications, a third degree felony.

Christopher Wimmer, 33, of Crestview was arrested on seven counts of interception and disclosure of oral communications and misdemeanor battery.

The battery charge involved Wimmer holding open the eyelid of a sedated patient for a selfie.

Investigators say he also posed with an elderly woman with her breast exposed.

“It was a sick, juvenile game,” Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley said.