Man Charged With Attacking Wife, Punching Paramedic Who Woke Him From His Nap

Police say a Wisconsin man tried to kill his wife, then took a nap, only to wake up swinging at the paramedic sent to check on him.

Law&Crime reported on Thursday, August 6, that Randal Cunitz, 59, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to six felony charges — including attempted murder, strangulation and suffocation, false imprisonment, and battery to a health care provider, along with five misdemeanors.

The bizarre case began on April 27, when Cunitz’s wife called 911 from their home in Sparta and told dispatchers her husband “tried to kill her,” as per CBS affiliate WKBT.

A Monroe County deputy arrived to find her shaken, saying Cunitz had been drinking and had attempted to strangle her while slamming her head into the floor repeatedly. She played police a recording of the attack.

Cunitz can allegedly be heard saying, “Kill her, kill her, kill that [expletive].”

When deputies searched the home, they found Cunitz asleep on the couch. After he didn’t wake up right away, medical personnel were called to check on him.

When a paramedic performed a sternum rub to wake him up, he grabbed the paramedic by the hair or ear and struck him in the nose, as per the outlet.

Officers had to pin Cunitz down as he struggled, warning him he would be pepper sprayed if he kept resisting.

Officers restrained Cunitz as he continued to fight and warned that they would use pepper spray if he did not stop.

Cunitz was booked into the Monroe County Jail on a $250,000 bond following his treatment, as per Law&Crime.

He remains in custody, with his next court date scheduled for October 12.