Target 32: State Joins Investigation Of Local EMS
Parents Told EMS 'Too Busy' When Toddler Needed Assistance
LOUISVILLE -- The following is a transcript of Amy Wagner's report shown exactly the way it appeared on WLKY NewsChannel 32 at 5:30 p.m. on July 9, 2003.
Anchor: New at 5:30, a Target 32 exclusive -- state officials are now investigating Henry County's emergency medical service.
Anchor: This investigation stems from the arrest of an EMS employee and the death of a 3-year-old, a story NewsChannel 32 first uncovered last month.
Anchor: Amy Wagner joins us with this Target 32 exclusive.
Wagner: At worst, the State Board of Emergency Medical Services could shut down Henry County's EMS altogether. But at this point, the board will say little about the investigation, only that they're taking it very seriously.
Victim's mother Sarah Braswell (on June 5): I kept screaming, 'Where's the ambulance? Where's the ambulance? And it never showed up.
Wagner: Sarah and Jimmy Braswell's 3-year-old son, Bailey (pictured, left), died in March. The couple says Henry County EMS refused to pick up their son, claiming the supervisor was too busy to leave the office. Bailey was instead transported in the back of an Eminence police cruiser, where his parents say he quit breathing and died the next day. Their story shocked the community. Now, it's gotten the attention of the state.
Director of the Kentucky EMS Board Brian Bishop: The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services is involved in some investigations in the Henry County area into some allegations we received from individuals there.
Wagner: According to the executive director of the Kentucky Board of EMS, the investigation isn't only looking into Bailey Braswell's death. In May, Henry County EMS worker Chris Dunavent was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. A NewsChannel 32 investigation uncovered prior drug charges against Dunavent that Henry County's EMS supervisor claims weren't discovered with a background check. The state says it's looking into both incidents.
Bishop: Every complaint given to the State Board of EMS must be investigated.
Wagner: Henry County lawmakers say they're also taking the investigation very seriously.
Henry County Magistrate Wayne Gunnell: If we do have any problems with personnel issues, that will be dealt with in a proper manner.
Wagner: But beyond that, Gunnell believes Henry County's EMS is one of the best around.
Gunnell: We feel like the EMS is in a positive mode. We're basically very proud of our EMS in Henry County.
Wagner: But that EMS could be facing serious sanctions.
Bishop: (We'll administer) everything from private reprimand through fines, all the way from complete revocation of service.
Wagner: But Henry County lawmakers say they're confident this EMS isn't closing anytime soon.
Gunnell: I don't expect any decertification. I think they respect us enough to appreciate what we're doing in Henry County.
Wagner: A preliminary inquiry hearing will be held on Sept. 10. If the investigation into Henry County's EMS is concluded by then, it will go before the board, which will decide whether there's enough of a case to go to a formal hearing.
Please follow WLKY NewsChannel 32 and Target 32 for updates to this story as they become available.
Wagner: Sarah and Jimmy Braswell's 3-year-old son, Bailey (pictured, left), died in March. The couple says Henry County EMS refused to pick up their son, claiming the supervisor was too busy to leave the office. Bailey was instead transported in the back of an Eminence police cruiser, where his parents say he quit breathing and died the next day. Their story shocked the community. Now, it's gotten the attention of the state.
Director of the Kentucky EMS Board Brian Bishop: The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services is involved in some investigations in the Henry County area into some allegations we received from individuals there.
Wagner: According to the executive director of the Kentucky Board of EMS, the investigation isn't only looking into Bailey Braswell's death. In May, Henry County EMS worker Chris Dunavent was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. A NewsChannel 32 investigation uncovered prior drug charges against Dunavent that Henry County's EMS supervisor claims weren't discovered with a background check. The state says it's looking into both incidents.
Bishop: Every complaint given to the State Board of EMS must be investigated.
Wagner: Henry County lawmakers say they're also taking the investigation very seriously.
Henry County Magistrate Wayne Gunnell: If we do have any problems with personnel issues, that will be dealt with in a proper manner.
Wagner: But beyond that, Gunnell believes Henry County's EMS is one of the best around.
Gunnell: We feel like the EMS is in a positive mode. We're basically very proud of our EMS in Henry County.
Wagner: But that EMS could be facing serious sanctions.
Bishop: (We'll administer) everything from private reprimand through fines, all the way from complete revocation of service.
Wagner: But Henry County lawmakers say they're confident this EMS isn't closing anytime soon.
Gunnell: I don't expect any decertification. I think they respect us enough to appreciate what we're doing in Henry County.
Wagner: A preliminary inquiry hearing will be held on Sept. 10. If the investigation into Henry County's EMS is concluded by then, it will go before the board, which will decide whether there's enough of a case to go to a formal hearing.
Please follow WLKY NewsChannel 32 and Target 32 for updates to this story as they become available.
Previous Story:
- June 5, 2003: Toddler Death: Parents Told EMS 'Too Busy'
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