Former Employees Accused of Burglarizing Texas Ambulance

SANTA FE, Texas --

Two former employees of an EMS station have been accused of burglarizing their ex-workplace after placing a fake 911 call, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Santa Fe police said they got a 911 call about a man being down behind a business in the 4200 block of F.M. 1764 at about 7:20 p.m. Tuesday.

"There's a man that's laying down behind Santa Fe Seafood and Grill," the caller told the dispatcher.

The caller stated that she thought the man needed an ambulance, police said.

Police and an EMS crew went to the location, but no one was there, investigators said.

"It was a call specific enough that wouldn't just elicit an ambulance response," Sgt. Eric Bruss said. "It was specific enough that it would elicit a police response as well."

Police said the call was suspicious, so Bruss called dispatch to ask that they let him know if there were any reports of alarms as the 911 call may have been a decoy.

"Anytime a police officer or ambulance has to run emergency traffic, it enhances the danger," Bruss said.

A few minutes later, officers were sent to the Santa Fe EMS station about a disturbance that happened after the ambulance arrived back at the station. Detectives said the crew discovered two former employees at the station burglarizing an ambulance.

"Fortunately, we cleared (the fake 911 call) scene early enough," Bruss said. "We got back and were able to catch them in the act."

Investigators said one of women made the 911 call to get the crew out of the station so they could steal narcotics from an ambulance.

Amanda Kay Grigg, 37, and Heather Elizabeth Bemrose, 39, were arrested at the scene.

Grigg has been charged with burglary of a motor vehicle, possession of dangerous drugs and false alarm or report. Her bond was set at $8,000.

Detectives said they believe the drugs found in Grigg's possession were stolen from a hospital.

Bemrose was charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and false alarm or report. Her bond was set at $6,500.

Bruss said the women have confessed. They both used to work together responding to ambulance calls from the Santa Fe EMS station.

Morgan Grigg, 18, defended her mother as a hard-working, single mom.

"She's just not like that, at all. Something's going on," she said. "I was bawling all night last night."

Bemrose told police that her 7-year-old son, who was at home, was having an asthma attack and that she need supplies to take care of him.

Relatives of both women said they were working at the Hospital of the Mainland.

A hospital administrator said as of Wednesday morning, both were no longer employed there.

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