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Revived ex-Pittsburgh firefighter charged after attacking paramedics

Spat in the face of a medic after he was given medicine to bring him back to consciousness

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

PITTSBURGH — A retired Pittsburgh firefighter will face charges as a result of police saying he attacked and spat at police and paramedics early Wednesday.

City police said they were called to assist paramedics with Marc Vrane, 39, who was found unconscious and barely breathing about 1 a.m. at his Brandon Road home in the North Side.

Vrane spat in the face of a medic and began thrashing and screaming after he was given medicine to bring him back to consciousness, police said. Medics gave him four doses of Narcan, a medication used to help revive people who have overdosed on heroin or other opiates, according to a police report.

He continued to thrash and spit in Allegheny General Hospital and was medically sedated to receive care. Police plan to charge him with aggravated assault and harassment. Fire Chief Darryl Jones said Vrane retired from the department a few months ago.

Reprinted with permission from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.