Paramedic Accused Of Assaulting Patient

DENVER (AP)

Colorado Mug Shots A Denver paramedic has been charged with assaulting a patient in an ambulance, fracturing the man's skull and breaking his nose and an eye socket.

Thirty-year-old Alan Miller was arrested Thursday on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Miller was being held under $50,000 bail. A telephone message left at his home on Friday wasn't immediately returned, and it wasn't known if he had an attorney.

Police said Miller was in the ambulance that was taking 39-year-old Tim Smith to the hospital after Smith suffered a seizure and hit his head on Jan. 3.

Smith's wife, Suzanne Smith, told police her husband didn't have the skull, nose and eye socket injuries when he was loaded into the ambulance.

Another paramedic on the call, Shaunna King, told police they had to stop the ambulance because Smith slipped out of his restraints. She said four police officers helped put Smith back into the restraints.

Miller worked for Denver Health Medical Center at the time. Hospital spokesman Josh Harrington said Friday that Miller no longer works there. He declined to elaborate.

Police said Denver Health's paramedic division conducted its own investigation but declined to release the results without a court order. Police said they obtained hospital's report and some e-mails after a judge approved a search warrant.