Talk about a free ride.
A South Carolina woman was arrested after authorities discovered she called 911 at least 100 times in the past seven years to get rides into Charleston, the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office says.
Audrey Ferguson, 51, allegedly faked illnesses and would immediately sign out of area hospitals upon arrival, telling doctors she was fine, WCSC reports.
"She'll have a vague medical complaint; for instance, abdominal pain," Dorchester County EMS Director Doug Warren said. "She has medical complaints that are legitimate, and so until she's been evaluated and determined not to be sick, we have to assume she is."
A police report said Ferguson said she didn’t have a car and expected Medicaid to pick up the tab for ambulance bills.
Each of Ferguson’s trips cost $425 plus mileage, and officials say taxpayers may have to pay a bill of more than $400,000 to cover expenses that aren’t covered by Medicaid, WCSC reports.
Ferguson is charged with unlawful use of 911 and filing a false police report.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
