Pa. Man Attacks Paramedic Treating His Father

June 23--Muhlenberg Township police arrested a Temple man after he punched a paramedic trainee and threatened to get a knife and a gun as three people from the Muhlenberg Area Ambulance Association tended to his 68-year-old father, officials said Friday.

Gregory Alan Beaston, 34, of the first block of Miller Avenue was taken into custody at his father's house when police responded to emergency calls from the ambulance crew, who had taken shelter in a nearby house.

Beaston was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, obstructing emergency services, public drunkenness and related offenses. He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail after arraignment before District Judge Dean R. Patton.

"People are nuts," Muhlenberg Police Chief Eric P. Grunzig said. "Any situation can turn bad in an instant and you never know what you are responding to."

The ambulance, with a three-person crew, was dispatched to a house in the 5700 block of Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road on Thursday shortly before 11 p.m. after Beston's father, Robert, fell, injuring his head.

The crew was tending to Robert Beaston on a stretcher near the ambulance when Gregory Beaston punched paramedic trainee Kevin Bakey in the chest, police said.

Police said Beaston continued yelling and screaming that he was going to get a gun or knife. The ambulance crew left Robert Beaston on the stretcher and went to a nearby home where they were admitted by the owner.

The homeowner later told police that Gregory Beaston could be heard saying, "I'm getting my gun," and then "Screw it, I have my knife I'll just slice his throat." Gregory Beaston was still agitated when officers arrived but was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Paramedics then took his father to an area hospital.

Bakey, who is a paramedic student at Reading Hospital, was not seriously injured.

Chris Murray, paramedic supervisor at Muhlenberg Ambulance, said the crew made the right decision.

"Nothing is ever secure," he said. "The best we can do is duck and cover. Our best weapon is the radio system and last night that helped us get police to the scene."

Murray said it was rare for someone to threaten paramedics with a weapon but they often encounter combative patients. Some ambulance crews wait for police to secure a scene before they will treat people if they know there are weapons or an unruly crowd around.

Contact Jason A. Kahl: 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com.

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