Detroit EMS Crew Charged With Assaulting Patient

Dec. 17--Two Detroit emergency medical services attendants face charges that they assaulted a man having a seizure as he was being transported to a local hospital, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Byron Beales, 37, and Brian Bachynski, 25, were charged with misdemeanor aggravated assault and were arraigned today in 36th District Court by Judge Ruth Carter. They're free on personal bond, and a pre-trial conference was set for Jan. 5.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office said that the children of the unidentified victim told authorities that they say Bachynski punch the man and that Beales slapped their father. Later, at the hospital, the man was observed to have a bruised face and a red eye.

The alleged incident took place around 9 a.m. Aug. 30.

Neither Beales nor Bachynski could be reached for comment this afternoon. Joseph Barney, president of the Detroit EMS union, wasn't immediately available to discuss the case.

The city's EMS chief, Sean Larkins, said in a statement that the allegations are being taken seriously.

"Once these allegations were made, the employees' union representative was notified and these employees were placed on administrative duty while the Detroit Police Department conducted its investigation," Larkins said. "Once the department was notified of the charges filed against the two medics, both were immediately placed on leave, without pay, pending the outcome of their case."

Contact Matt Helms: 313-222-1450 or mhelms@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @matthelms.

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