ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A firefighter-paramedic has been put on paid leave after accusations he sexually battered a young woman as she was unconscious in the back of an ambulance.
WFTV reported that the alleged victim said she woke up, asked what was going on and the firefighter told her to go back to sleep.
The victim filed a complaint and the sheriff’s office immediately started investigating. The sheriff’s office forwarded the case to the state attorney’s office to review and determine if he will be charged with any crime. The firefighter-paramedic is a four-year veteran with Orange County Fire Rescue.
The woman claimed she was touched inappropriately below the waist as she was rushed to a hospital after an ambulance was called to the campus of the University of Central Florida.
The victim had been drinking and required medical attention, according to the report. He allegedly “had his hand down her pants and underneath her underwear,” according to the report. The victim claims he told her to “go back to sleep” and wiped tears from her face.
The woman told investigators he touched her inappropriately two more times on the way to the hospital for about 20 seconds each time, according to the report.
She told a nurse when she arrived at the hospital and the firefighter’s supervisors were immediately notified. The investigation is ongoing.