NEWPORT, Ky. — A man has been charged after allegedly spraying two firefighters with bear spray at a Newport fire station early Wednesday, according to court records.
In a press release, the city of Newport says a woman with facial injuries ran into a Newport fire station around 1 a.m. to seek help. Moments later, a man entered the station carrying an object, determined to be a can of bear spray, and claiming he had a gun.
Records say officers arrived at the scene and took Palmer into custody.
Palmer is described in the citation as “sweating profusely, talking excessively and at a fast pace, and acting extremely erratic and paranoid,” telling officials that people were chasing him and trying to kill him, even telling officers that someone had fired a gun at him.
Officials say Palmer was high on a controlled substance.
Police say the woman had met Palmer at a smoke shop on Tuesday night. The woman says that is when Palmer began to freak out.
The woman told officials Palmer was driving and at excessive speeds, including going approximately 60 mph on 10th Street, which has a posted speed limit of 30 mph, and that she was not let out of the vehicle.
The woman told authorities that this continued throughout Covington, Cincinnati and Newport.
According to a citation, the woman said she jumped from the vehicle while it was still in motion in order to get away from Palmer. The woman sustained multiple lacerations and road rash as a result of leaving the car, and was taken to St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas for treatment.
Police did not say how seriously the woman was injured.
The city says the firefighters who were hit with the bear spray were treated at the station.
Palmer has been charged with unlawful imprisonment (second degree), wanton endangerment (first degree), burglary (third degree), assault on fire, EMS or rescue squad (third degree), and public intoxication.
