Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Driver Detained by Cops in New York
A "hot-headed" volunteer ambulance driver was detained by cops last night after refusing to yield to a city ambulance crew that had arrived first at the Lower East Side home of an Alzheimer's patient, police said.
The driver, from the Jewish volunteer corps Hatzolah, was hauled off by cops. But he was later sprung after about two dozen supporters, as well as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, rushed to the Pitt Street station house.
"The outcome was totally in our favor," a man who identified himself as the president of Hatzolah said as he jumped into his car.
Silver said he had rushed to the precinct simply to "help mediate the dispute."
"It was a jurisdictional dispute," the state's most powerful Democrat said. "They all have to work together for the betterment of the people here."
According to police, the EMS crew was already on the scene when the Hatzolah team pulled up to the Grand Street apartment.
The city crew was assisting the emotionally disturbed woman — who is Jewish, police sources said — when the Hatzolah driver tried to force his way into the apartment.
A cop closed the door on the driver, but the driver stuck his foot inside and demanded to treat the patient, police said.
"The officer again asked him to leave but he didn't," said a police spokesman. "He started to leave, but then he stayed in the hallway and started yelling and screaming."
That's when the driver — whom a Hatzolah source described as "sometimes a hothead" — was brought to the station house, police said.
"He's a guy who sometimes causes problems," the source said.
When the crowd of Hatzolah supporters gathered outside, police said they were questioning the driver only to determine if he was, indeed, a medical technician for the 38-year-old group.
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=17&id=44310
A "hot-headed" volunteer ambulance driver was detained by cops last night after refusing to yield to a city ambulance crew that had arrived first at the Lower East Side home of an Alzheimer's patient, police said.
The driver, from the Jewish volunteer corps Hatzolah, was hauled off by cops. But he was later sprung after about two dozen supporters, as well as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, rushed to the Pitt Street station house.
"The outcome was totally in our favor," a man who identified himself as the president of Hatzolah said as he jumped into his car.
Silver said he had rushed to the precinct simply to "help mediate the dispute."
"It was a jurisdictional dispute," the state's most powerful Democrat said. "They all have to work together for the betterment of the people here."
According to police, the EMS crew was already on the scene when the Hatzolah team pulled up to the Grand Street apartment.
The city crew was assisting the emotionally disturbed woman — who is Jewish, police sources said — when the Hatzolah driver tried to force his way into the apartment.
A cop closed the door on the driver, but the driver stuck his foot inside and demanded to treat the patient, police said.
"The officer again asked him to leave but he didn't," said a police spokesman. "He started to leave, but then he stayed in the hallway and started yelling and screaming."
That's when the driver — whom a Hatzolah source described as "sometimes a hothead" — was brought to the station house, police said.
"He's a guy who sometimes causes problems," the source said.
When the crowd of Hatzolah supporters gathered outside, police said they were questioning the driver only to determine if he was, indeed, a medical technician for the 38-year-old group.
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=17&id=44310
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