Investigators say a contractor at Locust Lake State Park this summer locked a gate to “teach a driver a lesson,” but instead trapped an ambulance carrying a possible heart attack victim.
According to information contained in an affidavit filed by the state’s Dept. of Conservation of Natural Resources, 70-year-old Dennis Johnson, of Bedford, was working at Locust Lake State Park with KLA Roofing and Construction LLC, of Everett, in two areas, known as the Northside and the Southside Electric area at Locust Lake.
The state park in Schuylkill County has been under construction for about two years.
Johnson’s company was reportedly instructed not to lock the Northside gate during the summer months to ensure access for emergency vehicles while the swimming area was open.
Investigators allege that on June 24, a Tamaqua EMS crew responded to a medical call for a person experiencing shortness of breath at the park’s Northside beach area. The call escalated to a possible heart attack. While leaving with the patient, the ambulance encountered the Northside gate closed and secured with an unfamiliar lock.
State Park Maintenance Repairman Shawn Flaim, who is also affiliated with Ryan Township EMS, reportedly assisted the Tamaqua crew at the scene. He told investigators that he found the gate locked when the ambulance tried to exit and that he attempted, unsuccessfully, to open it using the park’s lock code.
Park Maintenance Supervisor Lester Miller and KLA Project Superintendent Michael Hahn were contacted, and a man identified as contractor Dennis Johnson later returned to the gate and removed the lock, allowing the ambulance to leave.
Investigators determined that the lockout caused a delay of about 5 to 10 minutes, with additional confirmation from a Lehigh Valley–Hazleton paramedic who said the ALS unit was delayed in reaching the patient because of the locked gate.
In interviews, Johnson reportedly admitted to locking the gate but denied knowing an ambulance was in the area at the time. He told park officials that he was angered after a vehicle sped past him inside the park and nearly struck him. Johnson said he wanted to “teach the driver a lesson” and locked the gate with his personal combination lock before leaving the area.
A witness, identified as coworker Melvin Shomo, confirmed that Johnson locked the gate using his own lock and said Johnson thought he was “doing the park a favor.” Shomo told investigators the two later learned an ambulance had been in the area when Johnson received a phone call while driving away.
Park officials and supervisors later confirmed that all contractors had been told not to lock the Northside gate while the swimming area was open.
The investigating officer concluded that Johnson’s actions delayed emergency responders and created a situation that could have endangered the patient’s life but believe he had no idea an ambulance had entered the park.
Johnson has been charged with misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment and reckless endangerment as well as summary counts of disorderly conduct and violating the rules of Commonwealth property.
He’s been ordered to appear at a preliminary hearing on those charges before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli on Oct. 29.
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