Police in Florida took a full-time paramedic into custody on June 26 on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery, the theft of items worth less than $300 and possessing prescription drugs. The 23-year-old man is being held at the Polk County Jail. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the man’s residence after a friend of his girlfriend called to report an assault. The man’s girlfriend is said to have told deputies that her arms were grabbed and her cellphone was thrown against a wall during a heated argument about the man’s alleged infidelity.
The girlfriend also claimed that she once awoke after drinking too much to find an IV in her arm drawing blood. When questioned by detectives, the man denied drawing his girlfriend’s blood but allegedly admitted to drawing blood from others for what he described as an art project. Before being taken into custody, the man is said to have called the PCSO to report that his girlfriend had initiated the assault and he was the victim.
Detectives say that they found the man in possession of the prescription anti-psychotic drug haloperidol, the prescription anesthetic etomidate, IV lines, syringes, needles and plastic bags. The man allegedly admitted that he took these items without permission and in violation of Polk County Fire Rescue policy. A PCFR representative said that steps have been taken to terminate the man’s employment.
Criminal defense attorneys with experience in domestic violence cases may argue that emotions often run high when couples argue and losing one’s job could be considered punishment enough when individuals take things a little too far. Attorneys may also advise criminal suspects to make no admissions to police officers until they have spoken with an attorney who has negotiated charging or sentencing concessions in return for their cooperation