** New Mexico pair charged with kidnapping and auto theft for stealing ambulance with medic inside
** UK teen gets 8 years jail time for attacking medic with baseball bat
UNITED STATES NEWS
** An Albuquerque, New Mexico couple have been charged with auto theft and kidnapping after a weekend stunt in which they allegedly stole an ambulance with a sleeping medic inside. KRQE (Crystal Gutierrez/February 9) said Alisa Quam and Mike Schildt appeared in court Sunday. Though details are few, the court heard that Schildt apparently drove the EMS unit, with Quam as a passenger. Schildt apparently saw the paramedic in the rear of the cab, but drove away anyway. The provider, meanwhile, escaped when the ambulance slowed at an intersection. According to the news site, the duo remain in jail pending the posting of a $15,000 cash bond.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A 19-year-old Leyland man has been sentenced to 8 years in jail for attacking a paramedic with a baseball bat on October 13th of last year. The Lancashire Evening Post (Rachel Smith/February 12) said Lewis Westwood pleaded guilty to the crime which resulted in male paramedic James Steel’s skull being fractured. According to the newspaper, Westwood was high on drugs and alcohol when EMS was called to his home. Initially going after Steel’s female partner, Westwood turned on Steel when the latter intervened. Westwood grinned in court as his sentence was read. Steel, meanwhile, has since returned to work. He continues, however, to suffer hearing problems.
