Knoxville News-Sentinel
Copyright 2008 Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Rural/Metro paramedic was injured Tuesday afternoon when she was assaulted by a patient in the back of an ambulance, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

The paramedic, who was not identified, suffered "scratches and a bloodied nose," while the patient, who is being treated at St. Mary's Medical Center, was charged with simple assault, De-Busk said.

The incident began about 2:37 p.m. when the ambulance was dispatched to a medical call at a Lay Avenue address, DeBusk said. The patient, Qiana Bennett, 28, had a history of causing problems for authorities, he said.

"Rural/Metro has an alert on that particular person for previous problems," he said.

While the ambulance was going down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Bennett allegedly attacked the paramedic and had to be restrained by KPD officers after the ambulance pulled off the road, he said.

Because she was being treated at St. Mary's, Bennett was issued a citation, in lieu of arrest, for the assault charge, he said.