Florida paramedic allegedly sexually abused unconscious patient in the back seat of an ambulance

MIAMI– A former Flagler County paramedic is accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious patient in the back of an ambulance about three years ago.

Authorities said James Melady of Daytona Beach was arrested after investigators caught him on video sexually assaulting an unconscious patient on the way to the hospital.

The incident occurred in October 2021 when Melady was working for the Flagler County Fire Department.

The Flagler County Sheriff said the video contained details that led investigators to suspect there may be more victims.

“It's just very unlikely that this person committed an attack and then changed his mind and said, 'Oh, that wasn't as satisfying as I thought it would be and I'm not going to do that again,'” Sheriff Rick Staly said.

According to police, the woman who was attacked did not know about the sexual abuse until officers informed her about the video.