Hitting EMT With Bottle In Ballston Results In Felony Assault Charge

ARLINGTON, VA — A 42-year-old man is facing multiple charges, including assault on a firefighter/EMT, for an incident that occurred early Sunday morning in Ballston, according to authorities.

Arlington County Police officers responded around 3:49 a.m. to assist fire personnel on a medical call for service in the 900 block of North Stafford Street.

A brief investigation determined that the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Kevin Gordon-Cruz of an undetermined address, had acted disorderly and struck a medic with a bottle, according to police.

Gordon-Cruz was arrested and charged with assault on fire/EMT, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication, according to police. He was then held without bond.

On Monday morning, Gordon-Cruz was arraigned in Arlington General District Court on all three charges, according to court documents. A bail hearing was set for Friday morning, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 7.

The public intoxication charge is a Class 4 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $250, according to the Code of Virginia.The paraphernalia possession charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor. If found guilty, Gordon-Cruz faces a potential penalty of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

A Class 6 felony, the assault on a fire/EMT is the most serious of the three charges. Potential punishments include a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine up to $2,500, according to the Code of Virginia. However, the court may decide to sentence the Class 6 felony as a misdemeanor, with a with potential jail time up to 12 months and/or a fine of $2,500.

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