THUNDER BAY – City officials say a person accused of assaulting a paramedic has been found guilty.
In a release issued late on Friday, the city said the hearing against the suspect, whose gender and name were not identified, began on March 29 and stemmed from a July 8, 2016 call when paramedics working with Superior North EMS were asked to assist a person found behind a business on Memorial Avenue.
The person then became violent and threatening toward the paramedic. Police assistance was requested and the person was taken into custody.
Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident,” said Superior North EMS Chief Wayne Gates. “Assault against any person, let alone paramedics, is unacceptable.”
The number of similar events is raising concern amongst paramedics, said Unifor 229 unit paramedic chair Rob Moquin.
"We are there to help, and we can't provide patient care to the best of our ability when we ourselves are being assaulted" says Moquin. “Paramedics will do everything they can to help people, but we also need them to help us by being respectful and cooperative.”
The suspect was also charged with resisting a peace officer, a charge that was later dropped with the suspect's guilty plea.
