Belle Vernon man charged for assaulting paramedic
A Belle Vernon man faces multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted a paramedic and grabbed a state trooper’s taser.
State police charged Andrew Nicholas Ritz, 28, with felonies of aggravated assault and disarming an officer, and misdemeanors of disorderly conduct, simple assault and resisting arrest.
According to the criminal complaint, at about 11 a.m. Tuesday Ritz was outside the post office on Pittsburgh Street in Franklin Township and motioned a trooper over to him.
Police said Ritz claimed to have been robbed at knifepoint in a van and dropped off at that location.
An ambulance arrived on scene to assess Ritz. According to the complaint, he refused to get into the ambulance and pushed a paramedic. The paramedic told police that Ritz also kicked her in the chin.
Police said Ritz was taken into custody shortly after grabbing an officer’s taser.
According to court records, Ritz has not been arraigned.