Detroit EMT Charged With Ignoring Call About Baby Not Breathing

DETROIT (WWJ) - A now former Detroit emergency medical technician is facing criminal charges for failing to respond to a medical run.

Ann Marie Thomas, 45, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on one count of willful neglect of duty, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Worthy says at 5:42 p.m. on May 30 of 2015, it is alleged that Thomas intentionally delayed her response to a dispatch of an 8-month-old infant who was struggling to breathe near a home in the 19900 block of Glastonbury in Detroit. Worthy said Thomas stopped driving her vehicle and parked less than a mile away from the location.

Another EMT unit was dispatched to the location, but the child — identified as I'Nayah Wright-Trussel  — died later that day, according to prosecutors. Family members said she suffered complications from a premature birth.

Thomas was fired by the city in June of that year. The girl's family later filed a civil lawsuit against Thomas, the city and the Detroit Fire Department.

Prosecutors aren't offering any details at this time as to why Thomas ignored the call. However, the civil lawsuit claims the EMT had phoned her supervisor and said, "I'm not about to be on no scene 10 minutes doing CPR. You know how these families get."

An April 28 pretrial hearing is scheduled in the case. Thomas faces up to five years in prison if convicted.