Wednesday, March 28, 2012

** Georgia man charged in highway death of EMT

** Nebraska man given lengthy prison term for holding medics hostage

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Dallas, Georgia man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the Sunday highway death of a Douglas County EMT. The Patch (March 27) said Francisco Ferrer, 33, made his first appearance in court Monday. According to the newspaper, Ferrer, who police said smelled strongly of alcohol, hit a bike being ridden by EMT Jason Dale Strickland, 37. The Interstate 20 smash that followed saw Strickland forced off the motorcycle into the center lane where a truck hit him. He was on his way home from work at the time. There is no word yet on further court proceedings related to the case.

** A North Platte, Nebraska man will be cooling his heels in jail for up to 12 years, after being sentenced Monday for holding a pair of paramedics hostage last year. The Beatrice Daily Sun (AP/March 27) said Carlos Charging Elk, 20, was given a 5 to 12 year sentence following a plea of no contest to tags including false imprisonment and weapons offences. Three counts of terroristic threats were dropped as per a deal with prosecutors. According to the newspaper, Elk’s odyssey played out in August of last year after he called 911 with a bogus help hail. When medics arrived, he sequestered the duo by pulling a knife and threatening their lives. No one was injured in the incident.