News

Ga. Paramedic Accused of Kicking Handcuffed Man

Jim West

12/23/2015

Dec. 23--LEESBURG -- A Lee County paramedic was charged on Friday with disorderly conduct, following a traffic incident where he is charged with kicking a handcuffed man in the groin, a report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office states.

According to the report, written by Lee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeffrey Potter II, the accident took place at the intersection of North Doublegate Drive and Georgia Highway 520 around 10 p.m. when vehicles driven by Amelia Warrington and David Smith collided.

Potter wrote in the report that witnesses told officers that, after the accident, Smith threw his cellphone at Amelia Warrington and cursed her. That prompted Jon Warrington, father of the driver, to become involved in a physical altercation with Smith, and then the paramedics separated the men.

Potter stated that he witnessed Lee County paramedic John Eckard grab Smith around his neck with his right arm, after which the two of them fell to the ground. As Potter tried to separate the two, Robert Patton, also a Lee paramedic fell on top of Smith, stating "I'll kill you if you ever put your hand on a public officer again."

With the help of another deputy, the situation came under control, Potter stated, and once Smith was placed in handcuffs he became compliant. Potter said that when he and a deputy were assisting Smith to his feet, Patton stepped in and kicked Smith in the groin, still "yelling and cussing" at the handcuffed man.

Patton was issued a magistrate summons for disorderly conduct and released at the scene, Potter stated.

Following the incident, Smith complained of pain from a bump on his head and was transported to Phoebe Putney North for observation and treatment. Potter said Smith was issued two magistrate summonses for disorderly conduct and released at the hospital.