Chrisman, IL. (ECWd) –
In looking at the Northern Edgar County Ambulance Service (“NECAS”) over the past week, we gathered information relating to accusations of physical abuse on more than one occasion, property damage to private and public property and allegations of firearms on the public property resulting in at least three police reports being made.
The NECAS Board even held a Special Meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2020, and disciplined its employee, EMT David Craig, by mandating he attend anger management classes, reimburse the cost of a new door (and installation) to the ambulance building, revoked the pay raise he received in August, and placed a signed letter in his personnel packet.
Since Thursday’s meeting, more information has come forwards, indicating that the situation is worse than was told prior to that meeting. The victim of the alleged abuse has filed for an Order of Protection with the Edgar County Circuit Court, to be heard at a later date.
Additionally, the Director of NECAS, Jeremy Neal, indicated to board members that either he knew nothing about the door being damaged, or that there was minimal damage to it, but further inquiry revealed he knew exactly what happened, when it happened, and even showed up at work to fix the door and door jam after it was broken by David Craig.
After interviewing several people, here is a shortlist of events and accusations:
- Co-workers sleep upstairs while wearing bulletproof vests because they are scared of David
- David gets hostile with patients
- David broke the victim’s door at her home
- David broke the door of the NECAS (photos below)
- David battered victim (photos below)
- Last August, David attempted to break thru the ambulance bay door while carrying a firearm (police report filed)
- In Aug of 2019 he was involved in another incident of alleged violence and was told by the NECAS board that was his last chance and there would not be another chance (they must have changed their minds)
- There are three police reports documenting these events
- After breaking the NECAS door, David drove to the VA hospital in Marion, IL – instead of the one in Danville, IL
- On the trip to Marion, David hot-boxed marijuana the whole way there and back (to make his head and his hand feel better)
- Jeremy (NECAS Director) went to victim’s house and asked her to quit because he could not promise a safe working environment
We also obtained photographs and messages which appear to support the above allegations.
There is absolutely no place for employees, government or otherwise, who batter other employees. There is also no place for supervisors to knowingly protect the alleged batterer, ask the victim to resign, and lie to the board about what happened.
Both Jeremy Neal and David Craig should be terminated from their jobs for the betterment of NECAS, and for the protection of the public.
