Man Assaults Paramedics, Dies in Ambulance on Way to Hospital

Los Angeles: In June, a man who behaved violently toward emergency services personnel died as he was being rushed to the hospital by paramedics.

On Sunday, June 18, 2006, around 4:05 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics were called to the Furst Motel, 5711 South Figueroa Street, in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles. The motel staff directed them to Room 8, where an unknown man, semi-conscious and bleeding from the nose and mouth, had been found lying on a bed.

As paramedics entered the room, the subject, an unidentified male Hispanic, 30-35 years, became combative and began kicking one of the fire fighters, striking a paramedic in the head and chest. Fire personnel immediately requested police back up.

When 77th Area police officers arrived, they saw the subject spitting at and fighting with paramedics. The police were able to handcuff the man and move him to the motel parking lot so paramedics could administer medical treatment. The Fire Department positioned a spit mask on the man’s face, while officers placed him on the ground and applied body weight to his limbs to overcome his resistance.

A hobble restraint was applied by Police Officer Jack Rizzotto, 29, three years with the department, before the subject was transported from the scene to a local hospital.

On the way to the hospital, the man developed medical complications and failed to respond to life saving efforts. He died in the ambulance.

One paramedic was treated for a contusion to the head and a kick wound to the upper chest. No police officers were injured.

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