Reports: Man slugs paramedic trying to treat him

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police reports said a man suspected of crashing his van and leaving the scene of an accident Monday morning was arrested for smacking a paramedic in the face.

Dwayne Pompey, 33, no address given, was arrested on charges of felonious assault and resisting arrest. He is expected to be arraigned in municipal court Wednesday.

Reports said officers were called about 11:15 a.m. to the first block of Cleveland Street, where a van had crashed into a utility pole. Reports said the driver had fled and police had a description of the driver but could not find him.

As officers were preparing to get the car towed, they received a call from a business in the 800 block of Market Street where a man matching the description of the driver of the van – who appeared to be very drunk – was pounding on the door trying to get inside.

Officers drove to the business and found Pompey, who by that time was sitting next to the door and looked like he was ready to pass out. Reports said Pompey slurred the answers to questions and he had a lump on his forehead. He was also very combative, reports said.

Reports said officers helped Pompey up and he told them to get their hands off of him. He seemed to calm down, but when a paramedic got close to examine him, he used the heel of his palm to strike her in the face, almost knocking her down.

Pompey also would not let officers handcuff him, reports said. He was taken to the ground and eventually handcuffed, then taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be examined.