A Clermont man was arrested for assaulting paramedics after he threatened them with a knife during a mental health evaluation.
Police responded to Orange Lake, a mobile home park located at 15840 State Road 50, at around 10:03 a.m. Thursday, accoring to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Lake County Fire Rescue requested law enforcement due to 59-year-old Vincent Joseph Pravato presenting a knife toward them and creating fear of life.
A paramedic on scene advised that the present firefighters and paramedics were called upon to check on an individual who requested medical help. They were attempting to do a mental health evaluation on Pravato at the time of the incident, the report said.
As the paramedic approached the door, he asked Pravato to step outside, the report said. That was when Pravato began acting irrate. He grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at the paramedics, all the while making thrusting motions and getting closer to them. The paramedic could not recall exactly what Pravato was saying because he was screaming. As a result, all of the paramedics vacated the residence in fear of their life and waited for law enforcement’s arrival.
Once on scene, deputies attempted to have Pravato vacate his residence, the report said. They were able to get him to do so without incident. During an interview with Pravato, he advised that he did not wish to go to South Lake Hospital because they never help him. He also wished to see a neurologist.
He further advised he never intended on picking up the knife. However, as he was reaching for a mallet, he accidentally grabbed the knife instead. He stated he never had any intentions of harming anyone, the report said.
After Pravato was secured, he was transported to South Lake Hospital for a mental health evaluation. He did not meet Baker Act criteria for law enforcement or the hospital, the report said.
As a result, the New York native was released from the hospital and transported to the Lake County Jail. He was charged with aggravated assault on a firefighter/paramedic and released from jail after posting $2,500 bond.