Firefighters Johnathan Wayne Thomas, Jarad Jones, Arrested on Drug Charges

Authorities say two Cherokee County firefighters have been arrested and charged with stealing drugs from a county ambulance.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office says Cherokee County Fire and Emergency officials reported the tampered vials to the sheriff's office. An undercover operation into the incident was launched with the assistance of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad.

"It appeared that some of the narcotics that they possess on the ambulances, some of those narcotics were missing," said Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison.

Cherokee County firefighter Johnathan Wayne Thomas, 34, was arrested after investigators executed a search warrant at his home on Wednesday afteoon.

Authorities say Thomas is facing several drug charges, including the sale of Hydrocodone and felony possession of marijuana.

A second firefighter, Jarad Jones, 25, tued himself in on Thursday. He is charged with felony theft by taking after being accused of stealing a painkiller from a county ambulance in 2011, according to Cherokee County officials.

Thomas is being held without bond at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center. Authorities say Thomas has been suspended without pay from the fire department.

Jones' bond is set at $5,700, according to officials.

The sheriff's office says no patients were ever in any danger during the thefts.