SPRING HILL – A man is facing assault and battery charges after deputies say he flailed his wounded arm around with the intention of spraying medical staff with his blood.
Darryle Herbert Cockefur, 22, is charged with battery on a firefighter/paramedic after medical staff told deputies he swung his bleeding right hand at a Pasco County firefighter last Wednesday, getting blood in his left eye along with all over his face and neck, according to Hernando County Sheriff’s Office report.
Paramedics claim they were transporting Cockefur after he cut his arm on barbed wire while playing "manhunt" — a hide-and-seek type game — in his yard in Shady Hills.
After transporting him to Oak Hill Hospital, Cockefur began flailing his arms around and wouldn’t stop despite orders from paramedics and nurses. One paramedic got blood in his eye and immediately retreated to wash it out, the report showed.
Deputies noted that Cockefur was under the influence of narcotics, according to the report. He later tested positive for opiates, benzodiazepines and marijuana.
Cockefur told deputies he had no recollection of flailing his arms while other medical staff claimed he was uncooperative and combative with nursing staff and others who tried to help him, according to the report. When he was told to stop flailing his arm, deputies were told Cockefur continued to swing his arm at a more frenzied pace.
Deputies also noted that Cockefur was initially taken to Spring Hill Regional Hospital, where he was not treated due to not having medical insurance. He was then taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Emergency Room, but nursing staff released him without treatment due to belligerent behavior, being combative and unruly, the report showed.
After being medically cleared from Oak Hill Hospital, Cockefur was taken to Hernando County Jail where his bail was set at $5,000.
