A Colorado man allegedly assaulted two EMS paramedics late Tuesday during a spell of erotic aggression in a West Des Moines motel.
Joseph Dylan Potente, 26, of 14120 Grant St., Thornton, Colorado, was charged with indecent exposure and two counts of assault on persons in certain occupations.
The incident began about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a West Des Moines motel in the 7000 block of Lake Drive, where Potente’s call for assistance with “foot pain” brought a response from agents of the West Des Police Department, West Des Moines Fire Department and West Des Moines EMS.
The arriving public safety agents found that Potente was naked in his motel room, and he became “upset when he was told to put clothing on” and “rushed at” the victims, who were West Des Moines EMS paramedics, according to court records.
Potente allegedly “punched and shoved” one paramedic in the “neck and chest area” and gave “four to six ‘bodyshots’ at” the midsection of another paramedic “with closed fist,” according to court records.
Potente also made lewd statements to the victims and performed lewd actions, such as when he allegedly did “stroke his penis” at the motel and again at Mercey Medical Center, according to court records.
The victims were in their full uniforms as West Des Moines EMS paramedics at the time of the alleged assaults.
Potente is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 23 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
