EMS Supervisor Attacked In South Boston, Day After EMT Stabbed

SOUTH BOSTON (CBS) – For the second time this week, a person has been charged with attacking an EMT in Boston.

The latest incident happened Thursday afternoon on Old Colony Avenue in South Boston. EMTs were called to a pizza shop for an unconscious woman when another woman tried to push past a Boston EMS supervisor to get inside the store.

State troopers were nearby in the rotary for a traffic stop and saw the struggle. Police said the woman, later identified as 37-year-old Donna Taylor of Boston, kept hitting the EMS supervisor and the two "ended up struggling in traffic on Old Colony Avenue at Preble Circle."

As troopers rushed to help, police said several people on the sidewalk recorded video of the attack on their phones, instead of helping the EMT.

Officials say Taylor shoved the EMT multiple times and hit him in the head and upper body.

The troopers pulled Taylor away and handcuffed her. The EMS supervisor, who was not identified, was not hurt.

State Police say Taylor kept fighting with the troopers and "relentlessly tried to resist arrest."

"Once cuffed and secured, Taylor refused to let herself peacefully be placed into the back of a cruiser, and continued to struggle. Once the Troopers got her inside the cruiser and closed the door, she continued to slam against the glass and violently kick the door panel," State Police said in a statement Friday.

Taylor now faces several charges, including assault and battery. She was released on her own recognizance with orders to stay away from and have no contact with the victim and comply with a treatment plan.

"I just watched it on the news and I said 'oh my God I seen that woman' and she wasn't in the right state of mind. She was acting crazy," said Tiffany Jones who lives nearby. "I felt bad for her."

This incident happened a day after police said 31-year-old Julie Tejeda stabbed an EMT at least seven times in the back on an ambulance in Boston on July 10. The EMT was released from the hospital Thursday.

Tejada is now charged with assault with intent to murder. She was ordered to have a mental health evaluation at her arraignment Thursday.

"It's a tough job," Mayor Marty Walsh said Friday night. "Our public safety officials, we respect them and EMS you know they called to situations to help people, they don't have weapons, they're out there to help people."

Boston's Chief of EMS says this week will be tough on both the victims of the two attacks and their fellow first responders.

"Her partner and her are both going to be dealing with those invisible wounds, same as veterans or anybody else coming back," said Chief James Hooley. "They leave a little mark on you. And we want to make sure that they're going to be OK handling that. As well as our personnel that responded to the scene. Hearing that call for help going out on the radio, hearing someone say 'I've been stabbed' or 'my partner has been stabbed' is not something any of us is going to forget."

Several lawmakers are currently pushing for legislation to make it a felony to attack health care workers in Massachusetts.