By Devoun Cetoute
Miami Herald
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant is behind bars and relieved of duty after he allegedly slammed a 65-year-old man’s head and gouged his eyes while on a rescue call to help him, deputies say.
Carlos Lewin, a 43-year-old nearly 11-year veteran of BSO Fire Rescue, is facing two counts of battery on a person 65 years old or older.
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On January 31, Lt. Lewin and other rescue-crew members rushed to a medical call near the intersection of Northwest First Street and 31st Avenue to assist Alan MacPhee , 65, the sheriff’s office said.
They moved MacPhee from his wheelchair to a stretcher. Lewin began arguing with him during an evaluation shortly after. He told the two firefighters with him to put MacPhee in the ambulance, where there are no cameras.
While the pair of firefighters were trying to get his vital signs, Lewin slammed MacPhee’s head against the stretcher for about 30 seconds, detectives said.
Lewin then “used his fingers to press into MacPhee’s eyes and struck his head against the stretcher again,” deputies said.
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After the medical call was over, the firefighters reported what happened. Some time after, Lewin was relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave with pay while an investigation was started.
On Thursday, Lewin was arrested at the BSO Public Safety Building and suspended without pay.
“The arrest of our fire lieutenant demonstrates our commitment to holding our own accountable for their unlawful actions. The public can rest assured that internal due process will be fair, and any resulting discipline will be appropriate and consistent with policy,” Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
I continued my verbal assault until the patient apologized to me with tears in his eyes
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