EMT BITTEN DURING TRANSFER

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- For the second time in two days, a Lincoln County Emergency Medical Technician has been bitten by a patient while en route to the hospital.

The latest incident happened late Wednesday night. Medics were taking a patient to the emergency room around 10 pm when the patient bit a medic on the hand. The patient then tried to jump out of the moving ambulance on East Main Street.

John Summey was charged early Thursday morning with assault with a deadly weapon on medical personnel. He was taken to the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center -- after being released from Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln -- on a $5,000 secured bond by Lincolnton Police officer Mark Sain.

Police were called to assist EMS in calming the patient down so the transfer to the hospital could continue. Authorities haven't decided if any charges will be filed against the patient.

On Tuesday, a similar situation happened to a different medic running a different call in Lincolnton. The medic was bitten on the arm and -- according to sources -- suffered a broken hand while trying to subdue the patient.

Both medics are expected to be OK.