August 1, 2019
A man in Maryland was arrested for allegedly trying to steal an ambulance after a firefighter trained in mixed-martial arts took him to the ground.
Firefighter Diego Peclat suffered a few minor cuts on his right hand during the incident. (Source: Montgomery County Fire/EMS/WJLA/CNN)
Christopher Broadus, 27, is charged with first-degree assault and attempted armed carjacking. The suspect was discharged around 6:30 a.m. from the Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Md.
At that time, Broadus allegedly assaulted a nurse then hopped into an ambulance that was parked right outside the emergency room. The suspect had a knife, according to the dispatch audio.
Firefighter Diego Peclat, who’s trained in mixed-martial arts, took Broadus to the ground. Peclat suffered a few minor cuts on his right hand during the incident.
“I like sandwiches, but I don’t like knuckle sandwiches. It looks like that’s what this guy [Broadus] probably got,” said Pete Piringer with Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.
The average Montgomery County medic unit costs around $350,000, according to Piringer.
Court records show Broadus has an extensive criminal history of drug use.