West Virginia Paramedic Charged With Striking Patient

Posted by: Curt Varone May 30, 2011 0

A West Virginia paramedic has been fired and charged criminally after allegedly slapping a patient.

Paramedic  Michael Wears, 37, was fired last week by the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority following an investigation into the incident, which occurred on May 19, 2011. He was charged by Dunbar Police with battery.

The patient was in police custody at the time, and handcuffed in the back of a cruiser. He and Wears alleged got into an altercation leading to the slap. According to police, the patient was intoxicated at the time and the battery occured in the presence of the police officer.

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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