Exclusive: Man Reportedly Rams Rental Car Into Firefighter Outside Glendale ER

GLENDALE (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles firefighter paramedic is recovering after police say a driver tried to run him down while he was helping a patient into an emergency room.

The incident took place Monday afternoon in the parking lot of Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale.

"The vehicle drove into the parking lot and struck his paramedic vehicle. He tried to contact the driver, the driver was a little bit belligerent," according to Tom Lorenz, of the Glendale Police Department.

The suspect, 50-year-old Richard Molina, walked into the ER and then came back to find firefighter Bill Case taking pictures of Molina's vehicle and license plate for identification purposes.

"The driver was extremely agitated and he punched it. He drove right into the firefighter, going over the hood, into the windshield and also breaking off the side-view mirror," Lorenz said.

Police located the rental car at a Hertz drop-off location near LAX Tuesday.

"It was still intact with the damage that we needed for the evidence and it was consistent with the story," Lorenz said.

After 24 hours of surveillance, police arrested the suspect in the MacArthur Park area.

Lorenz says police usually see people agitated at an ER when they're trying to get drugs.

Police say Case, who's worked 12 years with the fire department, was back on the job Thursday with some cuts and bruises. Lorenz says Case is lucky he wasn't more seriously injured.

Molina stands to be charged with felony hit and run and assault with a deadly weapon, along with an enhancement of battery on a peace officer.

LA City Fire wouldn't comment because of the ongoing criminal case.