Report says paramedic slapped patient

BALTIMORE, Md. - Paramedics are often the first line of defense.  The patient is cared for in an ambulance before reaching a doctor at the hospital. 

But, according to a police report, it didn't go that way for Shaun White back on September 8th.  The 31 year old responded to reports of a drunk woman at the Morrell Park Apartments.

The report says the victim was not combative, but White began ramming her into the stretcher and he lifted her by the neck and smashed her body into the headrest.

People who live here are just finding out.

"If it was my mom, I would really be upset," said Will Kouhlerschmidt, a neighbor. 

"A lot of times, they got to put up with all kinds of behaviors," said Marvin Johnson, a neighbor.     

Johnson says he sees a medic here several times a week.

"A lot of them can get belligerent, arrogant, trying to instruct the paramedic how to do his job," said Johnson.   

A camera outside of the building verified the original complaint filed by White's colleague.  The report says it shows him distressed.

Inside the ambulance, the report says the victim started to mouth off and White responded by slapping her across the face.

"All of the emergency personnel that come to this building and respond to these calls, they do it in a proper fashion.  They're professional and everything," said Johnson.    

White was arrested at the fire department and charged with two counts of second degree assault.

"I was pissed as hell.  There's no way this guy gets arrested for what he did, no way," said Rick Hoffman, president, Baltimore Firefighter’s Union.    

Hoffman believes the level of patient care was not as good as it should be, but Shaun White should not have been arrested.

The video will not be released until after the trial.  The victim and the colleague who made the complaint are not being named.