Miami Firefighter Who Punched Handcuffed Patient Who Spit at Him Says He Was the Victim

A former Miami firefighter who punched a handcuffed man on a stretcher who spit at him is defending his actions, telling a Miami television station he was a victim in the incident.

Lt. Robert Webster took early retirement after the incident, which took place on Oct. 15.

Webster brought Antonio Cruz to the emergency room at Jackson Memorial Hospital because Cruz had taken heroin and cocaine. Cruz told police he needed medical attention, and that set the stage for the conflict.

“A patient is a patient until the rules change. That patient became an assailant and I became a victim,” Webster told NBC 6.

Cruz has been charged with battery for spitting at Webster.

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