SALISBURY, Md.- A Salisbury man is behind bars on multiple charges following accusations that he assaulted a volunteer paramedic who was trying to provide emergency medical care to his brother.
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office said it happened Sunday, Nov. 22 when EMS responded to a medical call at a home on the 31000 block of Old Ocean City Road.
Upon their arrival, EMS were met at the ambulance by a man, later identified as 31-year-old Laron Devin Mitchell, of Salisbury. The Sheriff's Office said Mitchell was agitated and yelling at EMS personnel to help his brother, and actually climbed into the ambulance as EMS personnel were
trying to gather their equipment to take inside the home.
Investigators said that shortly after this, the victim, a volunteer Paramedic with the Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene to assist with the medical emergency. The Sheriff's Office said that Mitchell, apparently frustrated that EMS personnel were not moving quickly enough in his estimation, struck the Parsonsburg paramedic in the head. That is when the Sheriff's Office was requested to respond.
The Sheriff's Office said Mitchell fled prior to the arrival of law enforcement,
presumably due to having outstanding warrants from an unrelated matter.
Investigators said that despite having been assaulted, the victim, who was bleeding from the head, continued to assist with the medical emergency occurring within one of the bedrooms. The victim then used his body to block the doorway to the bedroom, so that EMS personnel could work undeterred.
The Sheriff's Office said that only after the medical emergency had been resolved did the victim seek medical attention for himself at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, where he was later treated and released.
During their investigation, deputies were able to identify Mitchell as the suspect, and applied for charges.
On Wednesday, Nov. 25, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and Community Action Team, located Mitchell hiding in a bathroom, and arrested him without incident.
Mitchell was charged with second-degree assault on EMS, obstructing and hindering and false statement to officer, and was ordered held without bond.
