Seems these guys got confused and forgot the difference between an ambulance and an Uber…
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Two FDNY emergency responders were beaten and pepper sprayed in a vicious assault after they reportedly refused to drive two aggressive patients to a different hospital.
So why did the men not want to be at the facility that they had been originally brought to?
Apparently they had gotten into a fight with the head nurse.
Authorities reported that the encounter began around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. Two EMT’s with the FDNY had transported Andre Langston, 27, and Avanti Rhodes, 24, of the Bronx to Mount Sinai West Hospital on Tenth Ave. and W. 59th St.
New York Daily News reported that after a short time inside the hospital, the men exited. Evidently they had gotten into an argument with the head nurse at the Midtown medical center, so they ran outside and demanded that the crew take them to a different city hospital.
When the ambulance crew declined to take them up on their offer, police say that Rhodes suddenly punched one of the EMT’s in the face, leaving him with a bloody lip and bruised face.
The criminal complaint says that the injured EMT’s partner immediately tried to intervene. But when he tried to step in to help his partner, Langston pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the two paramedics in the face, burning their eyes, police say.
Two men beat and pepper-sprayed 2 FDNY EMTs after they refused to taxi them to another hospital, per authorities.https://t.co/C80yFcNp2T
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 6, 2019
Shortly after the group’s scuffle, police managed to take the two men into custody without further incident. The EMS workers did not report any serious injuries.
Rhodes, the original instigator of the fight who had allegedly began throwing punches, was released without bail from the Manhattan jail he had been booked into on Wednesday following his arraignment.
A judge ordered that Langston be held on $5,000 cash/$10,000 bond, according to court documents. Authorities say that he is being held as a fugitive from another unrelated crime.
The local first responder union condemned the attacks against the FDNY workers. Local 2507 represents EMS workers in the city.
“We’re thankful the assaulted FDNY EMTs involved in this incident are with us today. This could have ended tragically,” said union president Oren Barzilay. “Their efforts in preventing their ambulance from possibly being carjacked and causing substantial damage or injuries to others should not go unnoticed.”
Barzilay went on to say that the city is still lacking in their support for police and first responders.
“The city needs to do more for the men and women who serve and protect New York,” he said.
It’s not the first time a local union has called out city leaders for their failure to empower those sworn to protect and serve the city.
In fact, it’s been happening a lot lately.
The NYPD has been having an especially difficult time maintaining law and order for the last few months, with police most notably citing officials’ decisions to fire former officer Daniel Pantaleo as a clear picture of where they stand.
The NYC Police Benevolent Association instilled a vote of “no confidence” in both O’Neill and Mayor Bill de Blasio when it comes to protecting a defending those who hold the thin blue line.
Since then, the police union has called upon O’Neill to remove himself from his position of power. They’ve also asked Governor Andrew Cuomo to take de Blasio out of office as well for his lack of support for his city’s department.
O’Neill said that in regards to Pantaleo, “there were some alternatives that were discussed, but in the end I made the decision,” he said.
Patrick Lynch fired back in the union’s resolutions in August.
“For years, Mayor de Blasio has demonized police officers and undermined our efforts to protect our city,” PBA President Patrick Lynch said.
Lynch said that O’Neill’s political decision “deprived a dedicated and accomplished police officer of his livelihood”.
Police also said that the commissioner has failed to address issues within the department like mental health problems and quality-of-life issues.
“For years, Commissioner O’Neill has cravenly acquiesced to the mayor and his anti-cop allies,” Lynch said.
According to the PBA, they’ve had enough. And they won’t rest until New York City police officers get the support they need.
But the department has also had their own statements to make, claiming O’Neill wholeheartedly supports his officers.
“As the Police Commissioner has said before, his heart and soul are with the NYPD, and he is honored to lead this Department as it continues to drive crime to historically low levels,” said Phillip Walzak, the deputy commissioner for public information of the NYPD.
The union additionally called for Governor Cuomo to enact his official power to remove Mayor Bill de Blasio from office after he “unlawfully interfered” in the decision to fire Daniel Pantaleo.
The Police Benevolent Association “calls upon Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to exercise his powers under the Charter to immediately suspend and ultimately remove Mayor de Blasio on charges of malfeasance and nonfeasance in the above-stated matters.”
Lynch said that the mayor has been creating an environment of distrust between the police and the public, continuously widening the divide between law and order and the chaos in the streets.
The mayor’s office fired back after Lynch released his statements, calling the city the “safest it’s ever been.”
“This is another attempt by the PBA to divide our city and we won’t stand for it. Under this mayor and Police Commissioner, our officers and the communities they serve are closer than ever and the city is the safest it’s ever been,” Freddie Goldstein said. “That isn’t changing.”
Safest it’s ever been? Maybe the elected leaders should go on a ride along and see what it’s really like out there.
