Posted on 05/07/2006 5:19:26 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Father Faces Felony Charges For Rushing To Injured Daughter's Side
POSTED: 12:22 pm EDT May 4, 2006 UPDATED: 6:27 pm EDT May 4, 2006
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- A panicked father who pushed past rescue workers to get to his injured daughter at the scene of a car crash now faces felony charges.
Karl Swanson of Holiday, Fla., told the St. Petersburg Times he got a call from his daughter's cell phone late Tuesday: "Listen," the caller said, "your daughter's been in a terrible accident. She's in critical condition. It doesn't look good."
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the 48-year-old anesthesiologist drove into the accident scene, narrowly missing an emergency helicopter, then pushed past a trooper and a paramedic to get to his 18-year-old daughter's side.
Swanson was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and battery on an emergency medical care provider. He is free on $10,000 bond.
"Basically, he made a very serious and stressful situation worse," Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins said. "When people just relax for a second and listen to reason, we always let them see their loved one."
Swanson's daughter, 18-year-old Krystyna, remains in serious condition at a hospital. On Wednesday, he defended his response to the crash.
"They told me my daughter was dying," he said Wednesday. "They told me to go there. So that's what I did."
What is that supposed to mean?
On the other hand, my daughter was DOA at the scene of an accident and bayflighted to St Pete. FL trauma center where they brought her back to life. 2 days later we found her by calling hospitals. The police were unwilling to release her name or any information.
Oh my, yes, let emts treat your (possibly) dying child, when you are a doctor trained in emergency care. That makes sense!
No smart*** But if you are worried about panicing parents interfering with the care of the injured person, maybe you stabilize the patient and then call the parent when the ambulance is on the way to the hospital.
That's another issue and not my call to make. However, if you do call the father and indicate that his daughter is dying, don't act shocked when he tries to get to his daughter.
Using your logic, you would call the parent to let them know the child was dying, but then tell them they are going to have to stand behind the yellow line when they got there.
The spirit of Floridian Janet Reno's jack booted thugdom is lives on.
I'm surprised that the Florida cops didn't taser him.
Using your logic, you would call the parent to let them know the child was dying, but then tell them they are going to have to stand behind the yellow line when they got there.
I agree. Unfortunately, that is what the cops did.
Then, they prosecuted the father for reacting against THEIR intimidation and assault.
THAT is unexcuseable.
>>>>"The DA is an idiot"<<<<
But he is a good Tax Collector, wonder what Dad's Fine will be? Then there is Court Cost etc etc etc
TT
Almost. How much damage did the helicopter receive from Almost?
Who was the victim?
A citizen of the state or a Fathers daughter?
Per the article it appears that he was in a compulsive state of concern for a loved one after getting the distressing phone call.
Just to shed a little light on how ridiculous and destructive this kind of police state mentality is, if this father is convicted and he and his wife later wanted to adopt a child, the felony conviction would exclude him as an "appropriate" parent.
I'm beginning to think that is a job "qualification."
How terrible! I can't imagine what you must have gone through.
He's a doctor! HE could have made the difference between life and death. Last time I checked, doctors still had more medical training than EMT's and cops.
exactly what i think too ... give the guy a break
My tag line is for her, it was one of her favorite Beatle songs.
I am so sorry for your great loss.
I shall provide my opinion whenever I damn well please.
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