Marietta Daily Journal
COBB COUNTY, Ga. 鈥� A paramedic is facing criminal charges after being accused of pinching a patient鈥檚 nostrils shut at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital last month.
Justine Spatz, 33, of Woodstock, is being charged with simple battery and reckless conduct.
Around 11:30 p.m. March 28, an officer was notified by Kennestone medical staff that a patient was assaulted, per the arrest warrant.
The officer interviewed the victim, who disclosed that Spatz鈥攚ith MetroAtlanta Ambulance鈥攈ad 鈥渙bstructed her nostrils鈥� as she was being transported from her home to the hospital鈥檚 emergency department.
Spatz allegedly pinched the victim鈥檚 nostrils shut a second time while at the hospital, the warrant reads.
Following the interview, the officer reviewed the hospital鈥檚 video footage from around 9:30 p.m. and allegedly saw Spatz 鈥減inch the victim鈥檚 nostrils shut for approximately 28 seconds.鈥�
Spatz was arrested April 16. She was held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center for one day before being released on $2,970 bail.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance鈥檚 Public Information Officer Dennis Westover told the MDJ the company was taking the situation 鈥渧ery seriously.鈥�
According to Westover, the situation was 鈥減romptly reviewed鈥� by the company鈥檚 Continuous Quality Improvement Training Department. The results of the preliminary investigation were then forwarded to their medical director鈥檚 office 鈥渇or further review and opinion.鈥�
鈥淎t this time, we are waiting to hear back from the company鈥檚 medical director鈥檚 office,鈥� Westover said. 鈥淭he employee involved has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the full investigation.鈥�
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