A local woman was arrested on a misdemeanor charge Wednesday after allegedly calling for LifeNet multiple times throughout the day for nonemergency reasons, once even calling from the waiting room of the hospital.
Paula Laree Suprenant, 52, who lists a Whittington Avenue address, was taken into custody around 2:45 p.m. at National Park Medical Center, 1910 Malvern Ave., and charged with communicating a false alarm, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Suprenant remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $1,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2:30 p.m., Hot Springs police Officer Mikki Yamauchi responded to the NPMC emergency room waiting area regarding a complaint by a LifeNet supervisor.
The supervisor stated a known suspect, identified as Suprenant, has a history of calling LifeNet when there is no medical emergency. He said she had called LifeNet at 6 a.m. Wednesday and was transported to NPMC.
She was released from NPMC, "walked down the road," and called LifeNet a second time. LifeNet personnel responded and transported Suprenant to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, 300 Werner St.
Suprenant was released from CHI, "walked across the street," and called LifeNet for a third time. LifeNet personnel again responded and informed Suprenant of 911 abuse. They told her they would transport "this time," but she was not to call LifeNet again for nonemergency reasons.
Suprenant was taken back to NPMC where she was told by medical staff there they had already seen her and "could not provide further care for the same issues." At that point, Suprenant allegedly called LifeNet again from the NPMC waiting room, prompting the LifeNet supervisor to call police.
When questioned by Yamauchi, Suprenant allegedly stated that a male had "forced her to use prescription medication." She said he recently stopped providing the medication for her and she was going to the hospitals to get the medication.