Indiana Man Accused of Assaulting Paramedics and Cop

Dec. 04--An Indiana man was charged today with fighting two paramedics and a police officer who were trying to help him after people called for help when they saw him stumble in the street and hit his head.

About 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, people alerted police and paramedics to the 300 block of North LaSalle Drive where they witnessed a man stumble and hit his head on the ground. The witnesses said the man was highly intoxicated and needed medical attention, said police.

When officers and paramedics arrived on the scene and tried to help the man, he became very combative. The man, later identified as Joseph Zajac, struck one of the paramedics in the face. He then punched and kicked an officer and caused another paramedic to fall and strike her head on a railing causing her to pass out, said police.

Zajaz, 28, of Hobart, Ind., was arrested and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Zajac was charged with three counts of aggravated battery /harm to a police officer and protected employee, and one misdemeanor count of resisting a police officer, said police.

He is scheduled to appear in Bond Court this afternoon.

dawilliams@tribune.com

Twitter: @neacynewslady

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