A Schhylkill Haven man is behind bars at the Bucks County Correction Facility after he allegedly attacked two paramedics while in the back of an ambulance last month.
Joseph Klusman, 29, has been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault – attempts to cause bodily injury to designated individuals and aggravated assault – attempts to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, and a summary charge of harassment, in connection with the Aug. 21 incident in New Britain Township.
Police said two Chal-Brit Regional paramedics were dispatched to the 100 block of Chalfont Road in Hilltown Township to check on a male — later identified as Klusman — for possible heat exhaustion around 9:15 a.m. The medics placed Klusman in the back of their ambulance to transport him to Doylestown Hospital, however Klusman began to assault a female medic in the rear of the ambulance in the area of New Galena and Walters roads, police said.
According to the criminal complain, Klusman repeatedly struck the female medic in her back and grabbed her arm, before taking the medic’s knife/rescue tool, opening it and waiving it around in a threatening manner. The ambulance driver stated that he slammed on the brakes and ran to the rear of the vehicle, where he encountered Klusman, who was waiving the knife wildly in his direction, according to the report.
A responding officer from the Hilltown Township Police Department ran up to the back of the ambulance and jumped in the back, where he said Klusman holding the knife to his neck and threatening to kill himself, police said. The officer then drew his Taser and ordered Klusman to drop the knife, which Klusman eventually did, police said.
As a result of the attack, the female medic sustained cuts, scrapes and bruises.
Court records show that charges were filed against Klusman on Sept. 7, and he was taken into custody on Sept. 9 and arraigned by District Judge Regina Armitage, who set bail at 10% of $75,000 cash. He was then remanded to county jail after failing to post bail.
Klusman’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. in front of Judge Armitage.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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