Couple Accused of Injuring Paramedics: Police

A couple is accused of attacking paramedics in the Printers Row neighborhood Sunday night.

Cherise Finley, of the 1400 block of South Canal Street, and Robert Adams, of the 200 block of West Harrison Street, have been charged with aggravated battery to a protected employee, a felony, police said.

Chicago Fire Department Paramedics were responding to a call of an intoxicated female on the Harrison Red Line subway platform in the 600 block of South State Street around 10:30 p.m., police said. A paramedic said they followed a blood trail to a woman who had cut her male companion with a razor.

When CFD approached Finley, they were confronted by Adams who began hitting one of them in the face and body and spitting in the paramedics’ faces, according to police.

"We're trying to treat her, he got super violent," said paramedic Joni King, adding that they were "genuinely afraid for our lives."

Finely also scratched the paramedics on their faces, police said.

The pair fled the scene on foot and led authorities on a foot chase, however police took them into custody in the 900 block of South State Street.

The paramedics suffered abrasions to the face and have been treated and released from Northwestern Hospital.

"This is happening with frightening regularity," said Tom Ryan, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. "We've had people bit, spat upon, punched, kicked, knocked out. Jaws dislocated - this is all in the last year."

"We are not pleading down any longer," Ryan added.

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