Evansville Courier & Press
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — An Evansville man is behind bars after he reportedly punched a firefighter who was attempting to help place him in an ambulance.
According to an Evansville Police Department arrest affidavit, officers were dispatched to 1516 Florence St around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday by a neighbor in reference to a man who was drinking bottles of Listerine mouth wash and having difficulty breathing.
Officers found Kelly Gene Hicks, 49, speaking with firefighters in a living room strewed with plastic liquor bottles. According to the affidavit, Hicks was slumped in a chair and cursing at firefighters and officers. Hicks refused to answer questions and shouted obscenities at the authorities.
Hicks continued to curse and be uncooperative once medical responders arrived. Officers noted he had a strong smell of alcohol coming from his body and poor balance when he tried to walk. He was unable to answer basic questions about the date and his current health status, according to the affidavit.
Medical responders told Hicks he needed treatment and he was placed on a stretcher. Hicks then tried to punch Evansville firefighter Brian Stute in the face as responders were loading Hicks in an ambulance, according to the affidavit.
Stute said that Hicks missed his face and struck his chest instead. He didn’t suffer any injuries from the incident, according to the affidavit.
Hicks was placed into custody on scene and transported to Deaconess Hospital for treatment due to his high level of intoxication. It was later determined that Hicks had a blood alcohol level of .39 percent. Hicks also had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear in court.
He is booked with a $700 bond in Vanderburgh County jail on a charge of battery on a public safety official, a Class A misdemeanor with a conviction that carries up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
Court records show Hicks has a lengthy criminal history with multiple cases against him for public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance, including one from May 2011 that is still open.
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