A Mount Dora firefighter is facing criminal charges after police say he tampered with injectable Benadryl vials stored on a city fire engine, allegedly swapping the medication with non-sterile water. Lieutenant Jesse Ravenscraft resigned yesterday and is currently free on bond, according to arrest paperwork.
What police allege
According to WESH, the investigation began on March 4 when station personnel noticed bottles of diphenhydramine missing and discovered two vials that “looked and smelled like glue.”
The arrest report says surveillance video from March 3 appears to show a person later identified as Ravenscraft using a syringe to pull liquid from a water bottle. Investigators also noted that a flush and two syringes were missing from the engine’s medication stock. Detectives believe the two Benadryl vials were replaced with non-sterile water, and the report warns that this kind of tampering could be “detrimental up to and including death.” In other words, it is exactly the sort of thing medical protocols are designed to prevent.
Pharmacists warn of risk
Local pharmacists told WESH that injectable diphenhydramine is a standard item on ambulances and fire engines, and any adulterated vial is a serious red flag. “Bottles that have been tampered with should not be used,” Harrison’s Pharmacy owner Dr. Amarjit Kaur said, stressing that emergency medications must stay sterile and reliable. Clermont pharmacist and councilor Bill Petersen added that dilution or contamination can strip these drugs of their life-saving punch or trigger unpredictable reactions in patients who are already in crisis.
Department response
City officials say the suspect vials were immediately pulled from service, and a full inventory of all medications at the station was conducted. The department also instituted twice-daily checks of drug supplies at the affected location.
Leaders described the case as apparent personal misuse rather than an attempt to hurt anyone. They say there is no evidence of intent to harm and maintain that patient care and public safety were not compromised.
What the law says
Under the Florida Anti-Tampering Act in Chapter 501, tampering with a “drug” while showing reckless disregard for the risk of death or bodily injury can be charged as a felony. In qualifying cases, the statute allows prosecutors to pursue a first-degree felony. The full text and penalty breakdown are available from the Florida Senate.
What’s next
Mount Dora police say the case remains an active investigation. Detectives are continuing to review surveillance footage and internal communications cited in the arrest report. Court dates have not yet been announced, and the case is expected to move through the criminal system in the coming weeks.
