East Dundee man charged with assaulting firefighter

An ex-military man who exhibited "some erratic behavior" that required medical attention Monday, pushed a fireman/paramedic out of the ambulance that had come to take him to the hospital, authorities said.

Brian J. Backes, 29, of the 400 block of Dunridge Court in East Dundee, was charged with aggravated battery to a fireman, a Class 2 felony that carries a prison sentence up to seven years, if convicted.

According to police, an ambulance arrived at Backes's home at 5:48 p.m. to take him to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates for evaluation.

"After he was placed in the ambulance, he became combative and he forcefully pushed one of the paramedics twice," East Dundee Police Chief Terry Mee said.

The paramedic fell against the rear door and out of the parked ambulance on the second push and onto the ground.

"Fortunately, he was not injured," Mee said.

After that, authorities restrained Backes and the ambulance took him to the hospital.

During his hospital evaluation, police pursued criminal charges and arrested him Thursday.

During a bond hearing Friday, Backes told Kane County Judge Karen Simpson he has been living with his parents since being released from the military in 2007.

Backes said he takes prescription medicine for obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and he sees a counselor weekly.

Simpson set Backes's bond at $30,000, and he must post $3,000 to be released from Kane County jail.

His next court date is Feb. 10 at the Kane County Judicial Center.