By Rachel Engel
DALLAS — A firefighter was arrested after a police investigation found he had lied about receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis to receive paid time off work.
William Carter, 35, was arrested on Friday morning on felony theft charges following a Dallas Police Department investigation, WFAA reported. The warrant for Carter’s arrest alleges he lied about positive diagnoses for himself, his spouse and his child, and received $12,548.86 in paid sick leave from Dallas-Fire Rescue.
Funds for COVID-19 sick leave for firefighters are coded and paid for by the City of Dallas.
Detectives subpoenaed Carter’s bank records, and believe he visited a water park during that time.
According to the affidavit, when confronted by fire department officials about why he lied about receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, he said, “Greed, I guess.”
Carter was booked into the Dallas County Jail with a $1,500 bond. He is on paid administrative leave.