Buckeye paramedic arrested in burglary of department gear, drugs

PHOENIX – A suburban Phoenix paramedic was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing equipment and drugs from his department with members of his motorcycle club, authorities said.

Frank R. Zepeda, 39, a 12-year-veteran of the Buckeye Fire Department, also faces charges related to a shooting in Glendale last year, according to a press release from the Buckeye’s fire and police departments.

Zepeda is accused of orchestrating the April 2018 burglary of gear, drug and IV boxes and ballistic vests from a parked Buckeye fire truck.

Detectives believe the crime was committed by members of the motorcycle club of which Zepeda is president.

The stolen items were worth an estimated $10,000.

Buckeye police who served warrants at several locations, including Zepeda’s Glendale home, seized cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Investigators also received information that Zepeda was involved in a shooting in Glendale in March 2018, when a car was riddled with bullets but nobody was injured.

Buckeye police arrested Zepeda on Thursday morning, and the fire department said it immediately began termination proceedings.

Investigations into Zepeda’s alleged crimes continue in Glendale and Buckeye.

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