EMS Worker Touched Patient Inappropriately: Police

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services employee faces multiple sexual offense charges after allegedly touching a female patient inappropriately in an ambulance earlier this year, police said.

Montgomery County officials charged Mario Arturo Obando-Rodriguez, 33, of Gaithersburg, with three counts of fourth-degree sexual offense and one count of second-degree assault. Obando-Rodriguez has been a member of Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services since 2013, officials said. At the time of the incident, he was stationed at Fire Station 8 in Gaithersburg.

Police said the incident occurred on July 3, 2018, while Obando-Rodriguez was treating a woman inside an ambulance that was headed to a local hospital. Obando-Rodriguez, who was touching the woman under the pretense of providing medical treatment, then gave his phone number to the patient, officials said.

On Nov. 30, Obando-Rodriguez was arrested and taken to the Central Processing Unit. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Authorities continue to investigate the July 3 incident. Anyone who has information regarding Obando-Rodriguez or this incident is asked to call the 1st District Investigative Section at 240-773-6084.

Image via Montgomery County Police Department

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