Broward, FL, Sheriff Fire Rescue Lieutenant Accused of Gouging Patient's Eyes

Angie DiMichele

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

(TNS)

A Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant is accused of repeatedly slamming a patient’s head into a stretcher and jabbing the same patient’s eyes with his fingers during an argument while on an emergency call.

Lt. Carlos Lewin, 43, an 11-year member of the department, was among a crew responding to a medical call on Jan. 31 in unincorporated central Broward County. The male patient, age 65, was in a wheelchair when the crew arrived, and they transferred him to a stretcher, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday.

As the crew evaluated the patient, he and Lewin started arguing. The lieutenant then told two firefighters to put the patient in the rescue truck, which the news release noted does not have cameras.

“While the firefighters were obtaining [the patient’s] vital signs, they told investigators Lt. Lewin grabbed the patient’s head and forcefully struck it against the stretcher for about 30 seconds,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Additionally, the firefighters said, Lt. Lewin used his fingers to press into [the patient’s] eyes and struck his head against the stretcher again.”

Additional details about the alleged battery were not yet available in court records Friday.

Firefighters who were responding to the call reported the incident. Lewin was placed on administrative leave with pay during an investigation.

A warrant for Lewin’s arrest was issued Thursday, and he was arrested at the BSO Public Safety Building.

He faces two counts of battery on a person 65-years-old or older and was being held in the Broward Main Jail late Friday afternoon.

Attorney information was not available Friday afternoon.

“The arrest of our fire lieutenant demonstrates our commitment to holding our own accountable for their unlawful actions. The public can rest assured that internal due process will be fair, and any resulting discipline will be appropriate and consistent with policy,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said in the news release. “I applaud the two firefighters who reported this incident. We will continue to hold each other to the highest standards and serve the public with professionalism.”

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