Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A retired battalion chief who stopped to render aid to an accident victim and ended up saving her life, was arrested at the scene because he refused to move his vehicle when ordered to do so by a Sergeant from the Georgia State Patrol.
Emory Leroy Rickerson, who retired as a battalion chief from the Griffin Fire Department, was on Georgia Route 109 when he came upon a vehicle accident. Rickerson realized the victim was not breathing and began administering CPR.
When the State Patrol arrived on scene Sergeant R.S. Jeter ordered Rickerson to move his vehicle. Rickerson refused saying “I don’t care who you are. You can take me to jail, but I’m not moving my vehicle or leaving this patient right now.” Jeter arrested Rickerson for obstructing an officer. The victim survived but has significant injuries.
