From today's Chicago Tribune :
Woman charged in paramedic road rage
By Jason Meisner
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 5, 2006, 5:12 AM CST
A 49-year-old woman was charged with battery this morning after police said she drove onto a sidewalk to get around an ambulance blocking a South Side street, then put her car into reverse with a paramedic's arm caught in her rolled-up window.
Athena Morris, of the 7900 block of South Ellis, was charged with aggravated battery, a felony, and cited for failing to carry her driver's license, reckless driving, criminal trespass to a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident, police said.
The incident occurred about 2:15 p.m. Monday in the 8200 block of South Langley Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement.
"Paramedics were in the process of loading a patient into the ambulance when the offender attempted to drive around the ambulance onto the curb in the direction of the victims," the statement said.
Paramedics tried to stop her car by reaching inside and turning off the ignition, police said. But she rolled up her window, trapping a paramedic by his arm, and tried to drive away.
With the paramedic's arm still trapped, Morris put the car in reverse, striking several parked cars. She then got out and tried to run, but was arrested nearby, police said.
The paramedic sustained minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment. Morris was treated and released from Jackson Park Hospital.
Police said it was later discovered Morris was driving a rental car without authorization. Further details about the car or how Morris came into possession of it were not released this morning.
Morris was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing on the battery charge at 1 p.m. today at the Criminal Courts Building, police said. She was given a Jan. 2 court date for the traffic citations.
Tribune staff reporter Gerry Doyle contributed.
Woman charged in paramedic road rage
By Jason Meisner
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 5, 2006, 5:12 AM CST
A 49-year-old woman was charged with battery this morning after police said she drove onto a sidewalk to get around an ambulance blocking a South Side street, then put her car into reverse with a paramedic's arm caught in her rolled-up window.
Athena Morris, of the 7900 block of South Ellis, was charged with aggravated battery, a felony, and cited for failing to carry her driver's license, reckless driving, criminal trespass to a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident, police said.
The incident occurred about 2:15 p.m. Monday in the 8200 block of South Langley Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement.
"Paramedics were in the process of loading a patient into the ambulance when the offender attempted to drive around the ambulance onto the curb in the direction of the victims," the statement said.
Paramedics tried to stop her car by reaching inside and turning off the ignition, police said. But she rolled up her window, trapping a paramedic by his arm, and tried to drive away.
With the paramedic's arm still trapped, Morris put the car in reverse, striking several parked cars. She then got out and tried to run, but was arrested nearby, police said.
The paramedic sustained minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment. Morris was treated and released from Jackson Park Hospital.
Police said it was later discovered Morris was driving a rental car without authorization. Further details about the car or how Morris came into possession of it were not released this morning.
Morris was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing on the battery charge at 1 p.m. today at the Criminal Courts Building, police said. She was given a Jan. 2 court date for the traffic citations.
Tribune staff reporter Gerry Doyle contributed.
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