By Rich Cholodofsky
Tribune-Review
LOWER BURRELL, Pa. — Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec has dismissed criminal charges filed by Lower Burrell police against a paramedic charged with interfering while officers struggled with a reportedly suicidal woman.
The judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to warrant a criminal prosecution against Jodi L. Kerr-Rummel, 31, of Derry Township, who had been charged with misdemeanor counts of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
Police were called to a Lower Burrell home on April 9 by a man who said his girlfriend was suicidal.
The woman became unruly as police attempted to remove her from the home and take her to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. Kerr-Rummel, who also responded to the scene, was accused of jumping in between police officers and the woman to temporarily prevent the officers from using a stun gun to subdue her.
Blahovec ruled there was no evidence to suggest that Kerr-Rummel intended to thwart police’s efforts.
“Maybe the defendant was simply trying to calm ... (the woman) down so she would not get hurt. Maybe she wanted to help ... after she was tasered. Obviously the defendant should have stayed out of the way,” Blahovec wrote in an eight-page opinion released yesterday.
“The point, however, is that there is no evidence that the defendant intended to prevent (the woman) from being transported to the hospital.”
Police eventually subdued the woman with a stun gun and charged her with aggravated assault, harassment and resisting arrest. Kerr-Rummel also was charged, although she continued to work as a paramedic for the Lower Burrell ambulance service.
Defense attorney Jim Fox said yesterday that Kerr-Rummel was pleased with the court ruling and planned no further civil actions against police.
“She’s been working and was never suspended. The only negative is the embarrassment and humiliation of her being criminally charged for doing her job,” Fox said.
Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Calisti said she is reviewing the court ruling and has yet to decide whether to file an appeal.
Copyright 2011 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved