Officer having 'mild anxiety attack' took ambulance sent for man dying from police shooting, report says

"The first ambulance called to take Best to the hospital arrived at the scene at 6:02 p.m., about 14 minutes after the shooting. However, at the urging of other officers, that ambulance was used to take away a white police officer, Erin Perrotta, who had been involved in the foot chase, the report said."

"Another officer described Perrotta at the time as 'visibly hysterical (crying and breathing rapidly) and had blood all over her uniform,' the report said. Paramedics reported that Perrotta declined treatment in the ambulance. 'I am fine, I just needed to get out of here,' she said, according to the report."

"The second ambulance arrived at the scene at about 6:12 p.m. Hospital records said Best was brought in for treatment at 6:22 p.m. - about 14 minutes after Perrotta got to the hospital, according to the report. Best died at 7:41 p.m. as he was undergoing treatment for the gunshot wound, which damaged his liver and right kidney."

Dyshan Best, a 39-year-old Black man, was shot in the back by police in Bridgeport, Connecticut on March 31 while fleeing officers. A state investigation found the shooting justified because Best had a gun. However, the report revealed that the first ambulance arriving at 6:02 p.m. was redirected to transport Officer Erin Perrotta, who was experiencing a mild anxiety attack and declined treatment. Best waited approximately 10 minutes for a second ambulance, arriving at the hospital at 6:22 p.m. Best died at 7:41 p.m. from injuries to his liver and right kidney. The investigation did not determine whether the ambulance delay contributed to Best's death.

Read at Boston.com