Three FDNY EMTs were injured — and at least one was assaulted — while treating a patient in Brooklyn, according to officials and video posted to social media Friday.
Video of one of Wednesday’s two attacks on FDNY EMTs. We need to see how we can better protect EMTs and give them tools, training and tactics to better protect themselves and their partners. pic.twitter.com/wgR1yXG4yS
— Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) December 14, 2018
EMS was responding to a call for someone who was in cardiac or respiratory distress around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday near Albany Avenue and Rutland Road in East Flatbush, an FDNY spokesman said.
Two EMTs were treating a patient on the sidewalk when an argument erupted between family members and the other medics regarding the patient’s trip to the hospital.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the dispute was about.
Video posted to Twitter by City Councilman Joe Borelli shows the family member swing at an EMT, causing the 25-year-old victim to fall to the ground on his back.
Several medics — including the two who were helping the patient — stopped the man as he tried to walk away and took him to the ground, according to the video.
Clifford Bowers, 30, was charged with felony assault and harassment for the incident.
Bowers allegedly bit one EMT’s hand during the melee.
The three medics were taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center for evaluation. The patient whom they were there to treat was taken to Kings County Medical Center.
