Handcuffed drunk patient, 32, breaks free from ambulance body restraint to bite, beat and stomp on EMT, 20, in vicious attack that caused ‘life-long’ nerve damage
- Thomas Wright, 32, bit, beat and stomped on an EMT who was treating him in the back of an ambulance in Bronx, New York on Friday night
- Authorities were called to the home of the intoxicated man who was acting disorderly and Wright was being transported to hospital
- While handcuffed, Wright broke free of his restraint on the gurney and attacked the 20-year-old EMT, biting his shoulder and knocking him to the ground
- A cop in the ambulance helped restrain Wright until they reached hospital
- Wright is charged with assault, attempted assault and harassment and faces seven years in prison if convicted
- His lawyer said he wasn’t well, was ‘upset’ and ‘did not have criminal intent’
A Fire Department New York emergency medical technician has been hospitalized after an allegedly intoxicated patient in handcuffs bit, beat and stomped on him as they made their way to hospital in the back of an ambulance.
Suspect Thomas Wright, 32, was being treated by the 20-year-old man as they traveled from his Bronx home – where authorities responded to a man acting disorderly – to Lincoln Medical Center around 10.40pm on Friday.
But according to authorities Wright suddenly broke free from his seat belt on the gurney and clamped his teeth into the EMT’s shoulder.
Wright then knocked the victim to the ground and stamped on him, all while his wrists were shackled.
Thomas Wright, 32, bit, beat and stomped on an EMT who was treating him in a the back of an ambulance in Bronx, New York on Friday night
A police officer was also in the ambulance and stepped in to calm Wright, it was reported.
‘He’s in pretty bad shape,’ a source told the New York Daily News about the EMT who has just graduated from the emergency medical services academy.
The victim suffered serious, ‘more than likely suffered permanent injury that will impact his life forever’ and could be out of work for several months, Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 2507, said.
Injuries include nerve damage and a loss of sensation in one arm, Bronx Assistant D.A. Ryan Foley said in Bronx Criminal Court Sunday.
‘We’ve been saying this for two years, that more needs to be done in protecting our EMS personnel. This latest incident shows further evidence of how dangerous the work is for EMS,’ Barzilay added.
It comes after in 2017 Bronx EMT Yadira Arroyo, was killed after Jose Gonzalez stole and ran her over with her own ambulance.
Authorities were called to the home of the intoxicated man (on Mount Hope Place near Jerome Ave, pictured) who was acting disorderly and Wright was being transported to hospital
A cop in the ambulance helped restrain Wright until they reached Lincoln Hospital
He faces seven years in prison if convicted of assault, attempted assault and harassment
Wright appeared in a blue hospital robe and black jeans and his Legal Aid attorney claimed his client didn’t mean to do it.
‘My client was not well. He was upset. He did not have criminal intent,’ Legal Aid Society lawyer Laurence Gurwitch said.
Wright’s bail bond was set at $20,000, or $15,000 in cash.
He faces seven years in prison if convicted of his assault, attempted assault and harassment charges.
‘FDNY EMS members perform dangerous work thousands of times a day responding to medical calls and protecting New Yorkers,’ FDNY Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Saturday. ‘An assault on one of our brave members is a despicable act. Our thoughts and prayers are with our seriously injured EMT.’
In 2017 Bronx EMT Yadira Arroyo (left) was killed after Jose Gonzalez (right) stole and ran her over with her own ambulance