The Blotter

Firefighter found guilty of assaulting ambulance patient

A 40-year-old D.C. firefighter has been found guilty of simple assault after kneeing and punching a patient who was lying on the ground handcuffed. Vincent Kyle could face up to six months in jail when sentenced later this month, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The incident occurred June 8, 2009, after a patient on PCP became unruly en route to a local hospital, stripping off his clothes, then taking control of the ambulance. Police arrested the patient and handcuffed his hands and feet as they waited for a new ambulance. Then Kyle, who accused the patient of spitting on him, assaulted the man, according to the prosecutor. Kyle is scheduled to be sentenced next Wednesday.