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Colo. paramedic accused of breaking patient’s nose

The Associated Press

DENVER — A paramedic has been charged with assaulting a seizure patient in an ambulance, fracturing the man’s skull and breaking his nose and an eye socket.

Alan Miller, 30, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of second-degree assault. He was being held on $50,000 bail.

Police said Miller was taking Tim Smith, 39, to Denver Health Medical Center 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 and that four police officers helped to restrain him.

Hospital spokesman Josh Harrington said Friday that Miller was no longer employed there.

Police said Denver Health’s paramedic division conducted its own investigation but declined to release the results without a court order.

A message left at Miller’s home wasn’t immediately returned. It wasn’t known if he had an attorney.