Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant arrested in battery of patient, BSO says

A Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant was arrested on battery charges involving a patient who he allegedly beat inside a rescue vehicle, authorities said.

Carlos Antonio Lewin, 43, was arrested Thursday by BSO on two counts of battery on a person 65 or older, Broward jail records showed.

BSO officials said the incident happened on Jan. 31 when fire rescue workers responded to a medical call in the area of Northwest 1st Street and Northwest 31st Avenue in unincorporated central Broward.

The 65-year-old patient, who was sitting in a wheelchair, was placed on stretcher and while he was being evaluated, Lewin got into a verbal argument with him, officials said.

Lewin then instructed the two firefighters who were with him to place the patient in the rescue vehicle where there were no cameras, and while the patient was having his vital signs checked, Lewin grabbed his head and forcefully struck it against the stretcher for about 30 seconds, authorities said.

The other firefighters said Lewin also used his fingers to press into the patient’s eyes and struck his head against the stretcher again.

An arrest affidavit said Lewin then choked the patient causing him “to flail around and grasp for air.”

The patient complained of head, neck and eye pain and was taken to Broward General Medical Center for medical evaluation, the affidavit said.

The firefighters reported the incident and detectives launched an investigation that led to a warrant for Lewin’s arrest being obtained on Thursday. He was arrested at the Public Safety Building.

Lewin appeared in bond court Friday, where a judge discussed the charges.

“The allegations here are that he slammed this person’s head, choked them, and then tried to gouge their eyes out,” Judge Corey Friedman said.

Friedman said he felt the allegations warranted a higher bond.

“I’ve got certainly community safety concerns. And again, I’m not saying he’s guilty of it, that’s for a different court at a later time, but I do have to accept everything in the warrant as true,” Friedman said. “But if you are a firefighter, or certainly somebody with a higher rank in the firefighting profession, I mean, you have an additional layer of community service where you’re supposed to protect and help people.”

Friedman set Lewin’s bond at $50,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim. He’s also not allowed to possess firearms or weapons.

Lewin, who was hired by the department in July 2015, has been suspended without pay, BSO officials said Friday.

“The arrest of our fire lieutenant demonstrates our commitment to holding our own accountable for their unlawful actions. The public can rest assured that internal due process will be fair, and any resulting discipline will be appropriate and consistent with policy,” Broward Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony said in a statement. “I applaud the two firefighters who reported this incident. We will continue to hold each other to the highest standards and serve the public with professionalism.”