Guardian responds to driver’s arrest
Wytheville Enterprise: News >
Fri Feb 08, 2008 - 04:19 PM
By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff
The arrest of a transport driver last month on abduction and rape charges has left the staff of Guardian Ambulance Service Inc. in shock. It also has prompted the local company to take additional safeguards to prevent any similar incidents.
Alton Kenney Davis, 56, of Ivanhoe successfully cleared a criminal background check before Guardian Ambulance Service Inc. hired him three years ago, according to administrator Tim Griffith. Davis even mentioned a prior charge of child molestation, which was reduced to assault and does not appear on Davis’ record, Griffith said.
“He had several good references,” Griffith noted. “He had even been in the Ivanhoe Fire Department. He was a very dependable employee. We never had any complaints about him.”
In operation since 1991, Guardian Ambulance Service provides medical taxi and wheelchair service as part of its business. The company is the premier provider for LogistiCare, contracted by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services to provide transportation for Medicaid recipients.
Griffith reported his company employs over 70 full-time and part-time workers. As an employment requirement, he stated, a criminal history and sex offender check is made through the Virginia State Police, a driver’s transcript is obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles and a drug screening is conducted.
“Employees are randomly drug tested,” added Griffith, “and random criminal history checks are performed by LogistiCare. All drivers must meet state requirements and be approved by the Department of Medicaid system.”
While Davis was a wheelchair van driver for Guardian Ambulance Service, he also drove the company’s other transport vehicles. His duties often required him to transport three Mt. Rogers Community Services Board clients to and from their jobs at the Industrial Development Center in Wytheville.
Based on the allegations of one of those female clients, Davis was charged last month with four counts of abduction and one count of rape. He also is charged with four counts of aggravated sexual battery and four additional counts of rape in connection to a 23-year-old handicapped woman Davis transported to and from an adult daycare center.
“We never suspected anything,” Griffith noted. “After Al was charged, we checked the time schedule of his transports and we did not find anything out of the way. He wasn’t always the driver that took the IDC clients to work and then went back after them. Sometimes the drivers switched if another one was another transport. We never heard anything negative about the way our drivers treated people.”
According to Griffith, Davis was enrolled in the Emergency Medical Training program at the time of his termination, which followed his arrest on Jan. 16. Guardian Ambulance Service and all other EMS agencies must pass a detailed and thorough inspection every two years by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of EMS, Griffith said.
With its main office in Wytheville, Guardian Ambulance Service has satellites in Galax and Pulaski. It provides both basic and advanced life support 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The operation also provides critical care transportation and carries specialized equipment such as portable ventilators and specialized medications.
Griffith pointed out Guardian Ambulance Service is the primary backup for the Lead Mines Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Rural Retreat Emergency Service. It also provides assistance to the Wythe County Rescue Squad, he said.
“The incident has been hard on our people here,” Griffith commented. “This is the only time something like this has happened since we organized in 1991. We have a great bunch of employees that are dedicated and committed to provide the highest level of medical care available.”
Since the charges were lodged against Davis, Griffith said, two employees accompany all female transports. He also noted the company is investigating installing video cameras on its vehicles.
“We’ve talked to LogistiCare about it,” Griffith said, “and we’re not sure about the legality of it. It might not be cost effective, either.”
According to Paul Callahan, regional manager for LifeCare Medical Transport, his organization also requires a criminal background check on all potential employees. His corporate office conducts the investigation.
“Most of the time a potential employee is not going to apply for a job if he has a criminal background,” Callahan remarked. “We’re not a licensed agent of LogistiCare. We don’t do a lot of wheelchair van transports.”
Davis is being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, Feb. 21, in Wythe County General District Court and will be represented by the public defender’s office.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .
Reader Reaction:
What Mr. Davis did was WRONG!!! BUT, this should not turn into a personal attack on the business owners.
The Griffiths are very loving and caring people, and I believe people are just jumping on the bandwagon to try and bash them! (Probably former employees.) The past year has been very difficult for their family. And understandably the Griffiths have had to be away from the “office” and trust others (who they felt were compentent) to run their business. You cannot blame them for trying to spend time together.
As far as their personal assets… I don’t think that’s any of our business.
With that said… Let’s not personally attack these people.
Also, why are NAMES left off of so many of the above comments? Are you afraid to “sign” your post? YOU HAVE SOOO MUCH TO SAY!
Posted by Sara from Wytheville on 02/16 at 12:52 AM
Wow, how did I stumble upon this mess. If I were ever to need an ambulance, I certainly wouldn’t contact you all. (I am not an employee. I am a citizen of Wytheville, but this has turned into an employee/former employee bashing session.) I actually know Tim and Angie, and they are great people. I have had to call 911 for a family member before and Guardian showed up (don’t know why). The people that showed up were probably the people in the discussion above. When I think of health care, and paying for health care, this company is not what I expected. They had an ambulance that looked like it came off a farm (dirty, muddy and trashy), and the employees weren’t far from it. Not to say that all the employees are like that, but from reading the above, it sure does seem like it. I have pulled many things from these comments.
1. Tim and Angie are great people, (maybe too nice).
2. This has nothing to do with anyone’s religion, so don’t bring that up.
3. Guardian has a nice set of equipment on an ambulance. I hope that I am lucky enough to get on that ambulance and not the other junk that I have seen.
4. The employee’s are hit and miss. Some are good, some are bad.
5. If Tim doesn’t run the place, who does? It seems as though that person/people are responsible for the hiring of quality personnel. I think you should call this person out as to take the blame off of Tim. I know Tim may be the spokesman of the company, but obviously doesn’t know what goes on there.
6. Hopefully something positive will come of this mess.
Posted by Bill from Wytheville from on 02/18 at 09:38 AM
I know this response is a little late but here it is anyway. I no longer live in Wytheville, but I worked with Guardian Ambulance Service for several years and I know Tim and Angie Griffith very well. No one could have a better boss (employer) then these two. They will work with you and help you out anyway they can. Wythe County should be grateful for Guardian. No one wants to think about all the good that has come from this company being here and what all it took for Tim to develope this business. It seems like when something bad happens thats all anyone wants to see. Can anyone say how many lives have been saved because of Guardian? Can anyone say how many lives have been saved because of the training that is required for his employees? Can anyone say for sure how this business is run if they have not worked in EMS or for Guardian? Does anyone know how stressful this kind of work can be? Does anyone know what Tim and his employees see everyday? Well, let me tell you, its not all wheelchair and taxi transports!!! I have traveled alot of places with Guardian and let me tell you, you see things you will never forget. Everyone needs to stop trying to dog Tim and the business because someone did something terrible. It is terrible that it happened but its not Guardians fault. It’s all Al Davis’ fault. No Tim Griffiths. I’ve know Mr. Davis for several years and believe me I am more shocked then anyone. Tim has done a great deal for the community. His company has saved the lives of many people because Guardian is here. The only reason Guardian shows up when you call 911 is because the local squads do not responed or do not have anyone or enough people on call. No one ever looks at this. I have run alot, and I mean alot of rollover calls from 911 because no one would respond. Thank God Guardian was around and has people on call 24 hours a day. I have seen people that would have died if it had not been for Guardian. There are agreements between some of the rescue squads for Guardian to respond if they can’t. I feel who cares who comes as long a someone does. No one needs to dog Guardian about how the employees look. Look at some of the people on the other local squads. They are no better. But they are just like any other jobs. They have there lazy people and there good people and they have people who don’t look the best just like every business does. But it seems like everyone has a problem with Tim. Why? Is it because he is a good person and is helping people? Is it because he is human? Does no one else make mistakes? No one is perfect. If you don’t know the business then you need to keep your mouth shut. What does Tim’s going to church have to do with anything? What kind of car he drives or what he owns or if he is going to church is no ones business!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s his business. He owns the business, why shouldn’t he be making money doing it. I would think that is the idea. His personal life has nothing to do with it. There is a large turn over in this type of business. It is easy to get burned out due to what you see and some of the hours you work. You hardly ever get off on time and you work alot of overtime. It becomes consuming over time. Its not because Guardian is bad to work for. If it is then why have people stayed so long and work at Guardian as a 2nd job. What Mr. Davis did is aweful and Im sure he will get what is due if found guilty. But I just don’t see how any of this is Tim’s fault. I’m sure if you knew the history of the people you work with or live around you, you will find people with a history like Mr. Davis. Is that Tim’s fault also? People need to be thankful for people like Tim and Angie and the people that DO work for him. What would we do if we needed to be transported somewhere? What would we do if we need advanced life support? Yes, there are other people trained in the county, but they are not always around. Someone is always around at Guardian to provide this service. There is always room for improvement and I think some of it needs to start with the thinking of the people in Wythe and surrounding counties. Guardian is a big FAMILY. And like all families they have issues and problems that sometimes don’t make you look so good. Does that mean the whole family is bad? I think not. Guardian is th BEST as far as my family is concerned. I am PROUD to say I worked for GUARDIAN and I will defend them to the end. Tim and Angie are the BEST. And its about time all the people start to see this and be grateful for them. The world would be a lot better off with more people like them. Some of the ex-employees are just running off at the mouth. I think every one should have to sign there names or keep quite. Keep up the great work GUARDIAN!!
SSG James William Medley
Lisa Fielder Medley (former employee)
Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060
Posted by getagrip from on 04/29 at 09:24 PM
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