Florida Paramedics Threatened by Patient's Husband

HE ORDERED THEM AWAY FROM HIS CHOKING WIFE

By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

SHADY HILLS - Paramedics were just trying to help George Brick Jr.'s choking wife Tuesday night when he started screaming at them to leave his home, a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report says.

His anger escalated, according to the report, and Brick said he was going to shoot them.

Fearing for their lives, the paramedics went back to their rescue unit.

Brick, 42, had put a large metal object behind the vehicle, blocking them from backing out of the junkyard in which he lives.

Cars and debris are scattered about the property at 16844 Pasco Acres Drive, essentially leaving only one path for traffic.

"You are not allowed to leave," Brick reportedly told them. "You ain't going anywhere."

Paramedics called the sheriff's office for backup. When Deputy Matthew Kadel arrived, Brick puffed out his chest as if he was going to fight, but he backed down when Kadel pulled his Taser out of its holster, according to the report.

Kadel recognized Brick from an incident July 22. The deputy was driving on U.S. 41 near Bowman Road about 9:15 that night when he spotted a white GMC commercial truck with no taillights and an inoperable headlight, another report states.

Someone in the truck had just dumped a mobile home along the roadway. While the deputy's emergency lights flashed and his siren wailed, Brick continued on but kept motioning as if he was going to pull over, the report states.

Finally, Brick stopped at his junkyard and reportedly showed Kadel his revoked driver's license. The deputy attempted to arrest him and Brick started to get down on the ground but then jumped back up and ran for a wooded area, according to the report.

Kadel, with the help of police dogs, was unable to find the suspect.

Until Tuesday.

Brick was arrested on charges of simple assault on emergency medical care providers; simple assault on a law enforcement officer; and two counts of false imprisonment.

In the other case, he faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer; resisting arrest with violence; and driving with a revoked license.

He was being held at the Land O' Lakes jail Wednesday with bail set at $32,000.

After Brick's arrest, paramedics were able to finish assessing the condition of Goldie Brick, 64, who had choked on a pill, sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin said. She wasn't taken to a hospital, according to fire rescue.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com

Photo: George Brick Sheriff's report says he barricaded the paramedics' vehicle and refused to let them leave junkyard. Sheriff's report says he barricaded the paramedics' vehicle and refused to let them leave junkyard.

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