Intoxicated Teen Assaults County Ambulance Crew: Official

LANGLEY PARK, MD — For the second time in two weeks, the patient a Prince George’s County ambulance crew was trying to help turned violent, authorities say.

Unlike last month’s fatal shooting of a firefighter/EMT, Sunday morning’s attack ended with an assault by a teenager, according to Mark Brady, spokesman for the county fire department.

A Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department ambulance and medic unit was called about 5:30 a.m. Sunday to check on a “sick person” in an apartment in the 8100 block of 15th Avenue in Langley Park. Family members let the two ambulance crew members into the apartment to treat a boy who they said “had too much to drink” and needed medical assistance.

The crew started to evaluate the patient when he allegedly grabbed a female crew member and punched her, Brady said. The crew maneuvered themselves away from the combative patient and left the apartment.

Medics were just arriving and were warned by the ambulance crew to stay outside. Prince George’s County Police arrived and restrained the combative teen with handcuffs.

A second ambulance crew took the patient, with police on board, to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.

It is not known if charges will be filed against the teen.

The female crew member remained on-duty, Brady said.

This assault follows the fatal shooting of f irefighter/paramedic Lt. John “Skillet” Ulmschneider, who was killed April 15.

Morningside Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain was shot and seriously wounded as the pair checked on the welfare of the resident who shot them. Two other emergency responders were injured while pulling Swain out of the line of fire.

SEE ALSO:

• Slain Firefighter: Wife Says Daughter 'Will Know the Hero' Dad Was
• Family Prepares to Bury Firefighter; Grand Jury Subpoenas Shooter
• Morningside Firefighter Shot on Call Out of Intensive Care
• Firefighter Healing from 4 Gunshot Wounds to Help Charities

A Safety Investigative Team is being assembled to review the shooting incident, the department says, and could make recommendations on how to improve the safety of firefighters, medics and EMTs.