By Tony LaRussa
The Tribune-Review
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — A New Kensington man is accused of punching a paramedic while being highly intoxicated as EMS transported him to Allegheny Valley Hospital.
James Howard Mott, 57, of the 1700 block of Ridge Road was charged by Highmark Health Police with a felony count of aggravated assault along with counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.
Mott was released from custody on his own recognizance and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Carolyn Bengel on Aug. 2, according to court records.
A police officer for Highmark, which operates the hospital on Carlisle Street in Harrison, wrote in Mott’s arrest papers that Highmark officers and guards with Allied Security were called to the ambulance bay shortly before midnight July 12 for an incoming patient who was combative.
The officer said Mott was known to hospital staff because of previous incidents in which he was “intoxicated, belligerent and aggressive toward staff,” according to a criminal complaint.
A paramedic with the New Kensington Ambulance Service told police that as the vehicle was arriving at the hospital, he tried to wake up Mott by rubbing his chest and administering oxygen, the complaint said.
When Mott was awakened, he “became violent and combative” and started swinging at the paramedic, police said.
The paramedic told police he was able to avoid the blows by holding Mott down, but that he was punched in the eye when Mott managed to break free, police said.
Mott continued swinging at the paramedic, according to the complaint, but the paramedic was able to gain control of him and avoid getting hit again.
Police said hospital staff were able to get Mott into the emergency room, but he continued to be combative and threatened to beat up the employees and police.
A warrant for Mott’s arrest was issued after he was released from the hospital, police said.
Court records show that Mott pleaded guilty in April to a count of public drunkenness filed by Lower Burrell police and was ordered to pay a fine.
In 2015, he pleaded guilty to a count of public drunkenness filed by Brentwood police and was ordered to pay a fine, according to court records.
Mott also pleaded guilty in a Jefferson County courtroom in 2011 to a count of simple assault and was sentenced to two years of probation, court records show.
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