In what might be a first in Pennsylvania, a Lower Burrell paramedic will stand trial on charges alleging she interfered with police who were trying to get a suicidal woman to go to the hospital.

Paramedic Jodi L. Kerr-Rummel, 31, of Derry, is charged with obstructing police and disorderly conduct. She pleaded not guilty.

At the end of a hearing Wednesday, District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec ordered Kerr-Rummel to stand trial on both charges. She was released on a $1,000 non-cash bond. It will be her choice to have a jury or non-jury trial.

She remained on the job Friday -- accused, but not convicted.

Joe Schmider, who directs the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services within the state Health Department, called the charges against Kerr-Rummel "unusual" and perhaps the first of their kind in the state.

"I've been in emergency services since 1974, and I've never heard about anything like this," Schmider said. His bureau licenses paramedics and emergency services technicians in Pennsylvania.

"Usually, police and paramedics are on the same page," he said.

The incident in question occurred on the morning of April 9 as police were trying to get a Lower Burrell woman to go to a hospital voluntarily. Her boyfriend reported fearing she was suicidal because of text messages she sent to him.

The woman, who allegedly had not been taking her medicine, refused an ambulance trip to Allegheny Valley Hospital because she feared she would lose her job. She became combative and tried to punch one of the officers after they told her they would take her to the hospital anyway under an involuntary commitment, police testified at Kerr-Rummel's preliminary hearing.

During a struggle with the two officers, the woman fell to the floor but continued to be combative, police testified.

At that point, according to testimony and court documents, Patrolman Dominic Dileo pulled a Taser from his belt and was preparing to shock the woman when, he said, Kerr-Rummel ran between the officers and grabbed the woman's arm.

Patrolman John Marhefka Jr., who filed the charges, testified that the paramedic "bumped" into him and grabbed the woman with both hands, "tugging at her violently."

The officers said that, because Kerr-Rummel forced herself between the woman and the officers, Dileo couldn't use his Taser. They said Kerr-Rummel ignored several orders from the officers to move out of the way and leave the room. The paramedic's actions, police said, allowed the woman to continue struggling, thereby endangering herself, the officers and Kerr-Rummel.

Eventually, according to court documents, Kerr-Rummel left the room, and the woman, who remained combative with officers, was Tasered, arrested and taken to the hospital under an involuntary mental health commitment. She faces charges of aggravated assault, harassment and resisting arrest. The Valley News Dispatch is not identifying the woman because of the nature of the incident.

Kerr-Rummel was "only acting in the best interests of the patient," argued her attorney, James Matthew Fox of Latrobe.

Fox said Kerr-Rummel "didn't think it was appropriate" for a patient to be subjected to the electric charge of a Taser. He asked Peck Yakopec to dismiss charges, but the judge refused.

Fox didn't return calls for comment placed to his office on Friday. Kerr-Rummel has an unpublished phone number and couldn't be reached for comment.

Kerr-Rummel is a "very competent" paramedic who continues to work for the department, said Lower Burrell No. 3 fire Chief Mark Marmo.

Kerr-Rummel is allowed to work unless she is convicted, said Schmider of the Health Department.

Schmider said any of the state's roughly 13,000 paramedics or 37,000 EMTs have 30 days to inform the bureau if they are convicted of a crime. The bureau will review the case to decide if disciplinary action is warranted.

Schmider hopes the Lower Burrell police and EMS can discuss the incident. "I hope someone will mediate," he said.

Marmo said EMS and fire crews "value our relationship with our police department."

Added Marmo, "I hope we can resolve this amicably."