Tuesday, September 13, 2011

** Connecticut EMT charged with setting revenge fires after being fired

** UK air ambulance forced to abort pick-up after laser shined in cockpit;patient dies

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A former Bridgeport, Connecticut EMT, who was fired from his job, has been charged with arson after setting several revenge fires Thursday at vacant homes. That is the word from the Connecticut Post (Daniel Tepfer/September 10) which said Christopher Message, 34, who was let go from American Medical Response, has been tagged with first degree arson x 3 and first degree burglary x 2. Message appeared in Superior Court Friday. According to the newspaper, the case was remanded to September 20 with Message being held in lieu of bond. Along with the damage to property allegedly inflicted by Message, one of the fires resulted in a firefighter being severely injured. Police say further charges could be forthcoming

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** A laser pen directed at an air ambulance cockpit may have cost one man his life after the medevac aircraft had to abort its landing. The Chippenham People (Lois Avery/September 11) said the September 8th incident in Wiltshire played out shortly after midnight. According to the newspaper, pilots were dispatched to pick up a male chest pain patient when they were dazed by the bright light. A ground ambulance was sent to transport to Swindon, but the man died at hospital. EMS authorities did not acknowledge the incident as contributing to the man’s death. Police are, however, investigating.