GRAFTON, W.Va. The EMS director in Taylor County has been charged with falsifying records after a state police investigation into ambulance repairs funded by the county commission.
West Virginia State Police have arrested Gavin Watkins, 28, of Grafton, for allegedly forging a receipt for $28,945 for the work done by Atlantic Emergency Solutions in the summer of 2023.
In June 2023, Watkins made a request for the funds that was approved by the commission. The check was then issued on July 18, 2023, for the work to be completed.
When the company called seeking payment, Watkins told officials the work had been paid for and emailed them a receipt that was later determined to be a forgery.
An employee told troopers that Watkins allegedly sold EMS property on the internet, including old office supplies that were no longer being used. When asked if the employee thought Watkins was gambling or using drugs, she said she thought he was covering operating costs for the EMS unit with the intention of paying the money back.
During the investigation, troopers said they found files on his work computer that had been deleted and erased.