March 29, 2024

** Texas soldier arraigned for stealing ambulance

** Tasmanian paramedics in Australia continue to push industrial action to settle contract

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Fort Hood, Texas soldier was formally arraigned Thursday on charges alleging he stole and crashed an ambulance two days before. That is the word from The Killeen Daily Herald (Clay Thorp/May 26) which said Taylor Patterson, 23, was tagged with evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle and theft of property over $300,000. According to the newspaper, Patterson was arrested around 4 a.m. for public intoxication and placed in a police car. After managing to release his shackles and seatbelt, he then was able to discharge the cruiser’s shotgun before escaping. Patterson’s escapade continued with him stealing an ambulance called to  assess his drunken state. The theft led to a police chase near Belton and a subsequent crash of the EMS rig. He was arrested shortly afterwards. Bond has been set at $200,000 for each of the charges leveled.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** EMS industrial action in Tasmania continues to ramp up, with some practitioners forgoing administrative duties and wearing clothing emblazoned with union slogans. ABC News (Ted O’Connor/May 21) said the activities of The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) are being derided as a likely catalyst for ambulance delays and hospital overcrowding. According to the news site, providers are also not doing single crew responses as part of their protest. In addition, all patients, including ones who do not require hospital transport, are being taken anyway. The strategy is aimed at ending a contract settlement delay that has been ongoing since February. HACSU state secretary Tim Jacobson said matters have concluded, but the government failing to sign off on the deal has prevented the proposal from being presented to members. A spokesman for the Tasmanian government, however, said negotiations continue. The unidentified talking head said with the impending federal election it is likely the matter has just been temporarily shelved.

admin

Comments are closed.