Police: 2 arrested after ambulance tire slashed
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Police say someone slashed an ambulance tire early Monday morning while it was on a call up at C Street near the Roosevelt Boulevard. People on the block say there was a fight and one of the guys involved dove into the ambulance for cover or perhaps to hide. Others went in after him and that's when the tire got slashed.
Philly Fire Department Captain William Dixon says that's about what he's heard, but the investigation's ongoing.
"Our medic unit did take in the civilian to try to assist him medically," said Dixon from Medic 47's firehouse at Foulkrod and Darrah Streets in Frankford. "From there we believe there was some sort of disruption outside the medic unit. The medic unit was damaged to some degree and another medic unit had to be called because that was inoperable. And police were also called on scene as well."
Police made two arrests on arrival, but the cut tire put a very busy and much-needed ambulance out of service for a bit. It was back today but hard to find.
"You won't see the medic unit the time you're here," said Lieutenant Mike Foley. "They're out in the street. They're not coming back." Foley added that they might be at the hospital from which they might head to another call - they're just busy.
And that's the point. We need our emergency responders and they're good at what they do. Can we at least not make things hard for them? The least we can do is get out of the way while they work and for heaven's sake, don't slash tires. There's simply no excuse.