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Stabbed Paramedic Named 'Paramedic of the Year'
Stock LAFD Image | Photo by bcmacsac1 via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Stock LAFD Image | Photo by bcmacsac1 via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
A paramedic stabbed by a patient earlier today happened to be sent to the very hospital where he's expected to be honored as "Paramedic of the Year," KCAL-TV is reporting. Charles Anthony MacDougal, a nine-year veteran with the Los Angeles Fire Department, was walking by the Cecil Hotel in downtown this morning when someone asked him for medical help, reported blogdowntown. As MacDougal helped him, that person stabbed him several times before fleeing inside the hotel.
As MacDougal was sent County-USC in stable condition, police created a perimeter on the 600 block of Main Street and began searching the hotel floor by floor. As of 5 p.m., the perimeter was broken down and no suspect had been arrested, according to a LAPD spokesperson.
A doctor told KCAL-9 that MacDougal only suffered superficial wounds.
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MacDougal is a well known face around County-USC in Bolye Heights, even so much that he was already set to be honored by staff as the "Paramedic of the Year." He works out of Fire Station 9, which is known as the busiest in the city.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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