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2 Paramedics Found With Crack In Separate Stops, Police Say

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By VALERIE KALFRIN and STEPHEN THOMPSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2008

  Welton Jones

  Alvin Natal

Two paramedics from different agencies are facing felony cocaine possession charges after authorities found them with crack cocaine during traffic stops, records show.

Tampa police arrested Welton Jones, 60, of Tampa about 3:40 a.m. Friday at East Lake Avenue and North 29th Street after finding two pieces of crack cocaine in his vehicle, an affidavit states.

Jail records show Jones was wearing a smock from St. Joseph's Hospital Emergency Trauma Services when he was arrested, but a spokeswoman for the hospital said he was not on duty at the time.

"We're investigating the situation on our end," spokeswoman Lisa Patterson said, and that will determine Jones' employment status.

Jones was released from Orient Road Jail on $2,500 bail Friday. He also is charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. Police said they found 7 grams of marijuana in his car, an affidavit states.

Sunday, St. Petersburg police charged Alvin Natal, 54, of Largo with possession of cocaine. John Blackburn, the director of communications for Sunstar EMS, confirmed Natal was an employee before his arrest.

Natal is no longer with Sunstar, added Mark Postma, chief operating officer.

Natal was pulled over at the intersection of 22nd Avenue South and 34th Street slightly before 4 p.m. for improperly making a right turn, St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa said. Natal immediately told the officer who had pulled him over that he had one piece of crack cocaine and he handed it over, Kajtsa said.

He reportedly told the officer he has a "once-a-week" habit, and apparently had his one weekly piece on him the day he was pulled over, Kajtsa said.

Online records show Natal was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Monday.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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