Pennsylvania Paramedic Arrested for Interfering with Police Tasering of Patient

A Pennsylvania paramedic has been charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a police officer in regards to an incident which occurred last April.

Paramedic Jodi L. Kerr-Rummel of the Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3  pled not guilty to the charges, and was in court again last week on August 25, 2010 seeking to have the charges dismissed. She is alleged to have interfered with a police officer who was attempting to Taser a combative female patient on an EMS run on April 9. 2010.

Kerr-Rummel’s attorney, James Michael Fox, asked the court to dismiss the charges, arguing that his client  "didn't think it was appropriate" for the patient to be  Tasered. Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec  refused the request and the matter will now proceed to trial.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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