By Michael Urban
Republican & Herald
POTTSVILLE, Pa. — A Schuylkill Haven man is charged with assaulting an emergency medical technician while an ambulance was transporting him to a hospital in Pottsville, Pennsylvania State Police said.
Walter Gera, 34, is accused of kicking an EMT numerous times and damaging a Schuylkill EMS ambulance, troopers said.
| READ NEXT: ‘Not causing a problem’ is not a size-up: Lessons from Ohio firefighter/paramedic stabbing
Gera was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and institutional vandalism, according to court papers.
Shortly after midnight on Oct. 15, troopers were called to Lehigh Valley Hospital-East at 700 E. Norwegian St. for a report of an assault of an EMT during a patient transport, police said.
The accused was Gera, who had been taken into custody by state police for a separate incident about 10:30 p.m. the previous evening. Police said Gera was being transported to the hospital for a voluntary mental health evaluation.
The EMT told police that Gera began screaming during the ride, but soon calmed down. Later in the trip, Gera started kicking and the EMT was able to deflect two kicks. Gera continued kicking and struck the EMT in the chest with his foot. According to court records, Gera then lunged at the EMT, who restrained him and resecured him in his seat.
One of the kicks also struck the bio-waste drawer of the ambulance, making it unusable. The damage was estimated at $500.
The EMT was not injured.
Gera was treated at a psychiatric unit after the incident and an arrest warrant was executed by police following his discharge, court papers said. Gera awaits further court action.
© 2026 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.).
Visit republicanherald.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.