Lee University student charged and suspended after stabbing local EMS worker
Source: Cleveland Police Department
William Hunter Sharpe
A Lee University student was suspended after stabbing a local EMS worker on campus last week, according to a report by the Cleveland Daily Banner.
The student was identified as William Hunter Sharpe by the communications director for the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.
Dr. Jerome Hammond, Lee’s vice president for university relations, said Sharpe, an 18-year-old freshman from Georgia, was a member of the golf team.
Sharpe, who was charged with public intoxication and aggravated assault, was released on bond the night following the incident, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Dr. Lindsay Hathcock, executive assistant to the Bradley County mayor, said in a media release that the incident occurred on Sept. 8 at around 2 a.m. when Bradley County Emergency Medical Services received a dispatch request to evaluate a “vagrant” on Lee University property.
Sharpe’s roommate had “found him heavily intoxicated and agitated", which led a dorm supervisor to call 911, according to a Cleveland Police Department arrest report.
Sharpe attempted to enter his car, but a Lee campus security officer reportedly shut the door. After Sharpe walked away, paramedic Barry Snyder approached him and touched his arm, inquiring Sharpe’s medical state. Sharpe then turned and stabbed Snyder in the neck with his keys, barely missing his carotid artery, according the arrest report and Hathcock.
Snyder took Sharpe to the ground, and campus security restrained a “screaming, cursing Sharpe” until an officer arrived to make the arrest, according to the Daily Banner and Times Free Press. Snyder was then transported to receive medical care, where he received 14 stitches.
Following treatment, he returned to work to finish his midnight to 8 a.m. shift.
“Our community is indeed blessed with dedicated professional employees,” Hathcock said.
Hammond said university officials are unhappy with Sharpe’s behavior, but also concerned for his future.
“This does not represent Lee University,” Hammond said. “We’re not only disappointed, we’re sorry for him. He’s a very young man…[who made] a very bad decision, to say the least.”
Lee University students also expressed mixed emotions about the incident, which could have been fatal for Snyder.
“It just really disturbs me that we had someone at our school who had the intentions of hurting someone like he did the EMT,” senior Emilie Brown said. “He could have hurt someone at school or in his dorm. I'm really thankful that the EMT is okay.”
Snyder is “in good spirits and recovering,” according to Stan Clark, deputy chief of Bradley County Emergency Medical Services.
