Wash. Firefighter Assaulted While Helping at EMS Call

May 2, 2013
A Tacoma fire captain was assaulted by a woman who requested medical treatment. The captain was punched in the chest and spit on by the woman.

May 01--A 20-year-old woman assaulted a Tacoma fire captain early Monday after his crew responded to her request for medical treatment, police said Tuesday.

The woman entered a downtown bar in the 2600 block of Pacific Avenue just after midnight Monday and asked for water, an ambulance and a telephone, police said. Witnesses said the woman "freaked out," breaking a glass door and throwing chairs before firefighters tried to restrain her, police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said.

While the fire captain was holding the woman's arm and trying to calm her, the woman punched him in the chest and began spitting on the crew, police said.

Officers arrived to help restrain the woman, who was taken to a local hospital. Medical professionals told police the woman tested positive for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

After being released from the hospital, she was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and malicious mischief.

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Copyright 2013 - The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

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