A Florida paramedic was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in his care while on duty.
Paramedic arrested for sexual assault
James Melady, 37, of Daytona Beach, was arrested on Wednesday following a joint investigation by the Daytona Beach Police Department and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Melady’s arrest is linked to a separate investigation by the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Major Case Unit, which was already investigating him for other alleged sexual offenses.
During the course of that investigation, detectives reportedly uncovered shocking video evidence that led to the additional charges in Flagler County.
According to a statement from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, a disturbing video was found showing Melady molesting an unconscious woman while he was on duty, dressed in uniform, and supposed to be doing his job.
The video, captured on Melady’s cellphone, allegedly shows the incident occurring in the back of an ambulance while the woman was being taken to a local hospital.
Paramedic arrested after violating unconscious victim
The victim, a former resident of Flagler Beach, was completely unaware of the assault at the time.
The alleged crime occurred on October 17, 2021, after emergency services were dispatched to the woman’s home.
Investigators from both Daytona Beach and Flagler County worked together to identify the woman as the victim seen in the video.
The footage “explicitly showed the suspect violating the victim while she was clearly unconscious,” the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in its statement.
Detectives later met with the woman, who was horrified to learn of the attack, having no memory of the assault due to being unconscious.
Melady, who has since retired from Flagler County Fire Rescue, reportedly admitted to the crime during an interview with detectives.
Authorities suspect there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Melady was charged with sexual battery on a helpless person and video voyeurism. He is currently being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail as investigations continue.
Cop sued for stealing intimate photos off woman’s phone during traffic stop
In an unrelated case in Missouri, a 24-year-old woman has filed a $25,000 lawsuit, accusing a local police officer of violating her privacy during a routine traffic stop.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in the legal filing, described the officer as “a sexual voyeur and predator of the worst kind.”
The lawsuit, filed in February 2024, names the Florissant Police Department and an officer referred to as “Joe Smith,” although the true identity of the officer remains unknown.
According to the Florissant Police Department, the officer is no longer employed as a member of the force.
The complaint alleges that Smith stopped Jane Doe due to a broken taillight. During the stop, the officer reportedly asked Doe for proof of insurance and instructed her to retrieve the information from her phone.
However, the lawsuit claims that Smith then “abruptly” took the phone back to his police vehicle without Doe’s consent, and had it for more than 10 minutes.
Although the officer eventually returned the phone and left without issuing a ticket, Jane Doe’s interaction with the official was far from over.
Several months later, in July 2024, Doe was contacted by FBI agents, who presented her with a printed, enlarged photograph of a naked woman.
To her shock, the woman in the photograph was her — an intimate photo she had only shared with her husband.
According to the lawsuit, the FBI informed Doe that the explicit image was found in Smith’s possession, along with other private photographs.
The lawsuit claims that Smith had accessed her phone without permission during the traffic stop, “voyeuristically” viewing her personal photos and messages, and had even taken pictures of her private images using his own phone.
The incident left Doe feeling violated and deeply disturbed. She recounted to authorities that the experience caused her severe emotional distress, humiliation, and a complete breakdown of trust in law enforcement.
“Plaintiffs have lost all faith in the Florissant Police, and grow nervous whenever they see an officer,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of both Jane and her husband, John Doe, brings several claims against the police department, including invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring and retention, and negligent training and supervision.
The plaintiffs are seeking $25,000 in damages for the trauma caused by the officer’s actions.
