Not Very Bright: Man Attacks Emergency Responder, SODA, July 12, 2016 - On Saturday, July 9, 2016 Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisting with an air medical landing zone set up at the Soda Baptist Church located on U.S. Hwy 190 east in the Soda Community. While loading a patient into the PHI Air Medical helicopter, family members of the patient rushed to the helicopter to express concerns for their loved one being transported. The PHI Air Medical Paramedic pushed the subjects away from the helicopter for safety concerns and was assaulted. The assailant, identified as Shane Nelson, 19, of Livingston, was taken into custody by Deputies and transported to the Polk County Jail. Nelson believed his family member was being pushed around and retaliated by striking the Paramedic. Nelson was charged with Assault on Public Servant a third degree felony. The Air Medical Helicopter was taken out of service and the patient transferred to a second Air Medical Helicopter which was already on scene. Sheriff Hammack would like to remind the public that helicopters on the ground have many dangerous variables. You should never approach a helicopter in operation on the ground unless you have proper training or being escorted. Communication under a helicopter in operation is typically done by hand signs or physically moving someone’s body where they need to be. Further, assaulting emergency medical personnel cannot and will not be tolerated.
If you would like to comment on this story, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at pctletters@gmail.com. Be sure to include the story subject in the subject line of your email, also list your name and town in your letter. Your letter will be posted in Letters to the Editor.
