CRIME WATCH

Police: Ambulance tech assaulted

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A Freeport man assaulted an ambulance medical technician near Nassau University Medical Center on Sunday, Nassau County Police Department officials said.

Officials arrested Jose Torres, 29, near the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and 3rd Street in East Meadow at 10:30 p.m. on May 15. Police said he was being transported to the hospital via Nassau County ambulance when a violent incident occurred.

According to detectives, the Freeport Police Department was dispatched to a house on Ray Street earlier that evening. Here, they said they found Torres on the front lawn, intoxicated.

The officers called a county ambulance to transport Torres to NUMC, police said. While stopped at a traffic light a few blocks away from the hospital, officials said Torres began to remove the safety straps he was placed in and then punched the AMT in the face.

Torres pushed him to the ground, police said, continually punching the man in the head and body. They explained that the AMT pepper sprayed him to try to stop the assault, but added that Torres continued to fight with him until additional police officers arrived.

The officers removed Torres from the back of the ambulance to arrest him, but they said he resisted. However, he was eventually apprehended and taken to NUMC.

Torres was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest at his arraignment on Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.

The AMT was treated for an injury to his hand and wrist, police noted.