Suspect Charged in Attack on Oklahoma Paramedic

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- An Oologah man has been charged with three felonies after allegedly stabbing a paramedic who was taking a smoke break at an ambulance station.

Allen Dallas Weddle, 45, was charged in Rogers County District Court with assault and battery with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a weapon and first-degree burglary.

He faces up to life in prison if convicted on all three counts.

Weddle is accused of attacking Emily Kay O'Banion, 24, a paramedic with the Oologah-Talala Emergency Medical Services District, in the ambulance bay on May 2.

He was due in court for an initial hearing on Wednesday.

A police affidavit says O'Banion had gone into the bay to smoke and was confronted by Weddle, who demanded morphine, then beat and stabbed her when she refused to give him the drug.

Weddle then fled and O'Banion was found by her partner, Kelly Berry, who had been sleeping in nearby quarters, reports show.

O'Banion was later able to identify Weddle as her attacker and he was arrested the day after the attack at his home about one block from the ambulance station.

O'Banion was hospitalized in Tulsa for several days after the attack and is now in a rehabilitation center where she is recovering from her injuries that included paralysis to her left side.

She is regaining feeling in her side and is able to use a walker, according to her father, Mike O'Banion.

The medical services district's board of directors have approved increased security measures since the attack, including a security system and improved lighting, said OTEMS chairman Bobby Sweet.

Sweet said a preliminary investigation into the incident found that O'Banion and Kelly commited no violation of policy or procedures in place at the time.

Information from: Tulsa World