You just can't make this stuff up

As I have mentioned before, I am a Social Worker. I am a Social Worker who happens to work in a hospital and is part of a Trauma Team. (Remember I mentioned that whole always wear clean underwear deal?) Well anyway, my co-workers and I often find ourselves over lunch comparing battle stories. “So get this…” or “remember when I told you about…” or “So last night I was called in at 3 a.m. and…” then something super interesting, or sometimes not, finishes up the story. And then we all agree “you just can’t make this stuff up”.

Here is a great example:

Ex-firefighter who took severed foot charged with theft

By JASON SCHULTZ
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, January 26, 2009

FORT PIERCE — A former St. Lucie County firefighter was arrested today on theft charges in connection with a severed foot she took from an accident site in September.

Cindy Economou, 38, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested on one misdemeanor charge of petit theft and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, then released on her own recognizance, according to an arrest report.

Economou admitted to taking Karl Lambert's foot from the scene of the crash on Interstate 95 in St. Lucie County on Sept. 19. Lambert had crashed into a tree, severing his foot, and was later flown to St. Mary's Medical Center.

Lambert, 46, of Melbourne, survived. Economou told St. Lucie County Fire District investigators that she took the foot because it was too damaged to reattach and she intended to use it for training cadaver dogs.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Frith said his agency has been investigating whether Economou committed any crime by taking the foot. Investigators were trying to determine if the foot could have been reattached and if it had any monetary value, he said.

According to the arrest report, investigators believe that by taking the foot without Lambert's permission she intended to "either permanently or temporarily deprive the owner, Mr. Lambert, the right to his property."

Frith said investigators determined the foot did have value, though they could not put a specific dollar amount on it, which is why the FHP sought petit theft charges.

Lambert said the foot was worth a great deal to him no matter what its monetary value. He said he has been expecting Economou to be charged for several months and now he has moved on to focus on his recovery so he can return to playing golf, which he has not done since the wreck. Lambert is still confined to a wheelchair but said he is working on strengthening his leg so he can get a prosthetic foot.

"My main concern is getting better and therapy," said Lambert as he returned from a physical therapy session Monday night. "That's my goal is to hit that little white ball again."

Economou, a longtime firefighter, resigned on Oct. 1 amid publicity over the foot incident and an internal review by the fire district, which resulted in two fire captains receiving letters of reprimand for allowing her to take the foot.

What? Are you kidding me?

That’s where I say, “No I am totally serious, she stole a foot!”.

So next time you decide Grey’s Anatomy is a little “over the top”. Think again-unless you are talking about all the hanky-panky. Because I think that is over the top too.

*as a disclaimer, I have no personal experience with the above story; I am merely relying on the news for this one. Don’t sue me if some of the details are screwy. Second, I am totally not breaching HIPPA talking with my friends at work. We don’t use names to protect the innocent. Third, I am covering my butt with this disclaimer since my boss checks my blog. I wonder why she never leaves a comment?