A fired Aurora pharmacist who is accused of intentionally spoiling more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made his first appearance in court.Steven Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton, was arrested Thursday.He was being held in the Ozaukee County Jail.Brandenburg appeared virtually for a probable cause hearing.A certified letter listed recklessly endangering safety and criminal damage to property as possible charges.A criminal complaint has not yet been filed.The Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol told a judge it remains unclear if the vials Brandenburg allegedly removed were destroyed or damaged by Aurora Grafton Medical Center.That could dramatically impact the charges from felony to misdemeanor. Gerol said he needs clarification from Aurora and the vials may also need to be tested by Moderna.He mentioned during the hearing that Brandenburg brought guns to work on at least two occasions and hospital officials had concerns about him.The judge set a $10,000 signature bond.He must also surrender all his firearms to sheriff’s deputies, not work in the health care field and have no contact with Aurora employees.According to the probable cause statement, Brandenburg told investigators he removed the 57 COVID-19 vaccine vials from the freezer because he believed it was not safe and it could harm patients and change their DNA. It also said he is an “admitted conspiracy theorist.””He’d formed this belief they were unsafe,” Gerol said.The FBI and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also investigating.Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr said Brandenburg admitted to deliberately removing the vials from refrigeration on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned them, then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Dec. 26.A pharmacy technician discovered the vials outside the refrigerator on Dec. 26. Bahr said Brandenburg initially said he had removed the vials to access other items in the refrigerator and had inadvertently failed to put them back.He was fired after admitting to intentionally damaging the vaccines.The Moderna vaccine is viable for 12 hours outside refrigeration, so workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people before discarding the rest. Police said the discarded doses were worth between $8,000 and $11,000.Bahr said the doses people received Dec. 26 are all but useless.Public health officials have said the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.It’s not clear when Brandenburg will be back in court.WISN 12 News continues to gather more information on this developing story.
PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. —
A fired Aurora pharmacist who is accused of intentionally spoiling more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made his first appearance in court.
Steven Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton, was arrested Thursday.
He was being held in the Ozaukee County Jail.
Brandenburg appeared virtually for a probable cause hearing.
A certified letter listed recklessly endangering safety and criminal damage to property as possible charges.
A criminal complaint has not yet been filed.
The Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol told a judge it remains unclear if the vials Brandenburg allegedly removed were destroyed or damaged by Aurora Grafton Medical Center.
That could dramatically impact the charges from felony to misdemeanor.
Gerol said he needs clarification from Aurora and the vials may also need to be tested by Moderna.
He mentioned during the hearing that Brandenburg brought guns to work on at least two occasions and hospital officials had concerns about him.
The judge set a $10,000 signature bond.
He must also surrender all his firearms to sheriff’s deputies, not work in the health care field and have no contact with Aurora employees.
According to the probable cause statement, Brandenburg told investigators he removed the 57 COVID-19 vaccine vials from the freezer because he believed it was not safe and it could harm patients and change their DNA.
It also said he is an “admitted conspiracy theorist.”
“He’d formed this belief they were unsafe,” Gerol said.
The FBI and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also investigating.
Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr said Brandenburg admitted to deliberately removing the vials from refrigeration on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned them, then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Dec. 26.
A pharmacy technician discovered the vials outside the refrigerator on Dec. 26.
Bahr said Brandenburg initially said he had removed the vials to access other items in the refrigerator and had inadvertently failed to put them back.
He was fired after admitting to intentionally damaging the vaccines.
The Moderna vaccine is viable for 12 hours outside refrigeration, so workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people before discarding the rest.
Police said the discarded doses were worth between $8,000 and $11,000.
Bahr said the doses people received Dec. 26 are all but useless.
Public health officials have said the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
It’s not clear when Brandenburg will be back in court.
WISN 12 News continues to gather more information on this developing story.