Brooklyn mom Diane Carter dies as son punches EMS worker during chaotic 911 response
The hotheaded son of a dying Brooklyn woman assaulted emergency responders he thought were taking too long — hampering their efforts to save her, sources said.
Diane Carter, 54, died as her son, Dexter Malik Carter, 22, was arrested for injuring an EMS worker during the chaotic 911 response in Brownsville Friday.
Other EMS workers tended to Diane Carter — who had gone into cardiac arrest — but they were too late. She was declared dead at the scene at 1:13 p.m.
The EMS crew was professional. They also took some risk of further assault by not leaving the scene, but they did right by the patient.
Dexter was arraigned Saturday and released without bail.
Released without bail? Obviously such an upstanding citizen was released because he’s never committed a crime, right?
Dexter Carter has more than 10 prior arrests going back to 2006, ranging from weapon and drug possession to assault.
Weapons, drugs, assaults. Yeah, an upright citizen. No doubt he’ll reform now.
I wish I could say that assaults like this were uncommon, but they aren’t. Even worse, the courts don’t treat them seriously, at least in my experience. So, they’ll continue.
My state of Victoria, Australia, has recently introduced tougher sentencing for those who assault emergency workers – ambos, cops, firefighters and so forth. I’m hoping that by the time I am working, I’ll be safer (when another state implemented tougher sentencing, assaults were reduced by nearly 30%). Unions and those employed worked long and hard to get these changes. It wasn’t easy, and it will take time for the public’s attitude to change.
I know so many have accepted this as “part of the job” and many may be unwilling to (potentially) risk their employment status, but if history has taught us anything, nothing will get done until there is a massive, multi-profession action. Until EMS (firefighters, police, ER doctors and nurses, etc) demand change, change wont come. Be a thorn in the courts side, report every assault, letter write, protest, strike, get some arrogant, pig-headed jerk to lead the fight for justice. Make them (judges, city hall, law-makers) listen. Yes, you will probably fail. Yes it is easy for me to say all this, knowing I will be protected. But if EMS is not willing to fight for justice and protection, then they better get used to being used as punching bags.
Good luck.