An intoxicated man was arrested at UF Health-Leesburg Hospital after attacking a paramedic.
Officers responded to a call for help with a combative patient at UF Health Hospital at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
A Lake EMS Paramedic advised police that 60-year-old David Franklin Newton of Fruitland Park was transported to the hospital on his own request for intoxication. When they arrived at the hospital, Newton was rolled in on a stretcher. Once inside, they began to roll him toward a preprepared patient room, the report said.
As they rolled him in, Newton became combative, the report said. He began kicking and struck a paramedic in the right side of his jaw. He continued to kick and struck the same victim’s left jaw with his foot.
The assisting paramedics began to restrain Newton when he spat several times towards the victim. The spit landed on the victim’s short sleeve shirt near his torso along with his exposed arms, the report said.
Newton then told hospital staff he did not want medical attention and refused any offers to help him. Law enforcement was called at the request of the victim, and Newton was placed in handcuffs, the report said.
A check revealed Newton had several past convictions for battery and battery on law enforcement officers. In 2014, he was arrested for disorderly intoxication. He was arrested again for insulting female officers and headbutting a squad car last year.
The New York native was arrested and charged with aggravated battery on a paramedic and simple battery with prior convictions. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
