Ambulance Crew Assaulted

At about 1:40 PM, Saturday, July 10, 2004, Prince George’s County Police Officers from the Bowie area were dispatched to check on the welfare of an adult male in a store bathroom that was acting strangely.  Public Safety units were dispatched to the Giant Food Store at 3500 NW Crain Highway in Bowie.  Fire/EMS units awaited dispatch until the arrival of county police to verify if they would be needed.  County Police arrived and located an unconscious adult male in the bathroom and requested fire/EMS units to respond.  When the ambulance crew arrived and started to treat the patient he became alert and violent.  Two volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians {EMT} from the Glen Dale Fire/EMS Station 18 that were staffing Ambulance 188 sustained injuries in a scuffle that ensued.  County Police were able to gain control of the extremely violent suspect that appeared to be displaying symptoms consistent with a PCP overdose.  The EMT’s were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries which include a possible fractured nose, bumps, bruises and contact with pepper spray.