Paramedic Sentenced to 12 Years for Assaulting Patient

Alan Miller, 31, an ambulance paramedic for Denver Paramedics, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for second-degree assault on a patient he was transporting, and filing a false report. On January 3, 2009, Miller's ambulance was transporting Tim Smith, 39, to Denver Health Medical Center after he had suffered a seizure. Upon arrival at the ER, Smith was found to have suffered fractures to his skull, nose and eye socket.

While news reports of the events differ, Miller at one point blamed a police officer for Smith's injuries, as well as claiming he acted in self defense. The officer was cleared after an internal affairs investigation. Testimony from a fellow paramedic established that the injuries were caused by Miller’s over reaction to Smith’s struggling against his restraints. In sentencing Miller to 12 years in prison, the judge took note of the fact that Miller tried to evade responsibility for the offense by blaming an innocent police officer.

Denver Paramedics is a non-fire based EMS provider, and a division of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority.