By Roman Gokhman
The Mercury News

MARTINEZ, Calif. — A man being driven to the hospital in an ambulance punched a paramedic several times before jumping from the vehicle, leading an officer on a foot chase and eventually being Tasered.

"One paramedic was punched two times in the face," Martinez police Officer Josh Skinner said.

The incident occurred about 5:10 p.m. as American Medical Response paramedics were transporting 48-year-old Martinez resident Raymond Parodi, who was suffering a heart-related ailment, to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.

"The patient became combative while they were enroute," Skinner said.

The ambulance pulled over in the 3400 block of Alhambra Avenue and police were notified. Meanwhile, police said, Parodi got up, assaulted a paramedic and jumped out the back. Officers arrived to see him running across four lanes of traffic toward F Street.

An officer chased him behind a restaurant and ordered him to show his hands.

"He refused to do so, so the officer deployed the ... Taser," Skinner said.

Parodi was arrested and delivered to the hospital for his earlier heart-related problem.