Bodycam footage shows Georgia EMT punching a restrained 17-year-old patient in an ambulance
A video obtained from a Georgia police officer's body camera reportedly shows an EMT punching a 17-year-old patient in the back of an ambulance. WSB-TV names the EMT as 37-year-old Deannah Williams. The incident reportedly occurred in the late hours of Saturday, May 12. The medical professional allegedly snapped after the teenage patient, who was restrained at the time, spat on her.
Williams was an employee of American Medical Response, a major medical transportation company in Georgia. According to a statement from the company, Williams is no longer employed by American Medical Response. The company also stated that they are taking the matter “very seriously”.
"The safety of patients in our care is of the utmost importance to us and we have hundreds of employees in the area who care for hundreds of patients in DeKalb County each day," the statement read. "Our paramedics have tremendous pride in what we do, and we are honored to have the responsibility to provide care for residents."
American Medical Response did not release any further comments on the incident. An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
The video begins with a police officer in Dunwoody, Georgia approaching the back doors of an ambulance. A commotion can be seen inside the emergency vehicle through the door windows while the officer is approaching.
When the officer opens the back door, the EMT can be heard screaming profanities. Another officer can be seen attempting to restrain Williams. He attempts to remove her from the ambulance toward the front of the vehicle and through the side door. The teenaged patient was handcuffed behind his back and restrained at the ankles on a stretcher, WSB-TV reported. He was supposedly being transported to a hospital for an evaluation when the incident happened.
The officer who restrained the EMT is seen asking her, "What is wrong with you?" "That is a kid," the officer says. "That is a child - a 17-year-old child. What are you doing?" “I don't care,” Williams says. “He spit on me."
Williams claims that she was attempting to put a spit guard on the young man. The teenager reportedly spat at the EMT who lost control and began punching him repeatedly in a fit of rage. It is not entirely clear why the boy was so heavily restrained though it has been suggested that he might have been suffering from some psychological issues.
“This is your job. You do this for a living,” The officer says. “I understand, but you're not going spit on me,” Williams responds. “It doesn't matter,” the officer says. “Yes, it does,” an angry Williams counters.
“If you don't like people spitting on you then quit,” the officer argues. According to a WSB-TV report, the officers promptly restrained the EMT. She was reportedly arrested on charges of assault and battery. She was later released from jail after posting bail.
The boy's parents, under conditions of anonymity, told reporters that their child did not deserve to be treated in such a violent and brutal manner. The teenager's mother reportedly said that the video got "her blood boiling." "He's a child, you know," the boy's father said. "No human being deserves that."