Firefighters Assaulted in Monongalia County, WV

bisho1p

Three people were assaulted during a fire in Monongalia County today.

An official with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department says the owner of the property where the fire broke out assaulted two fire fighters and the Assistant Chief from the Triune Halleck Volunteer Fire Department and a photographer from the Dominion Post.

The fire started just after one this afternoon at an abandoned house on Michael Lucci's property. No one was seriously injured from the fire or the assaults, and it is unknown if charges will be filed.
(Courtesy WDTV-Bridgeport)
>
>
I responded to this fire yesterday afternoon, and arrived to find what was left of a three story abandoned house fully evolved and for the most part, collapsed to the ground. When our guys tried to put the fire out, the property owner said he wanted it to burn, and went so far as to assault two of our guys, and our assistant chief. He then proceeded to climb all over the engine and pump panel and interfere with fire ops to the best of his ability. Then he went through the yard where the firefighters were and began interfering there.

He then left the scene and came back a short time later. When he came back he attempted to hit me and run me over with his vehicle, by driving around traffic and down the oncoming lane against traffic and accelerated straight at me. I was forced to literally \"dive into the ditch\" to avoid being struck. Moments later three state troopers arrived on scene, and handled the situation. This guy was completely out of his mind. I hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent, and the maximum fine of $100,000 imposed.

Hugh A.

Sounds like someone needed to knock this guy into next tuesday. Why didn't one of your members take him out if he was running around assaulting people? Confused

bisho1p

[quote:94b5a82849=\"Hugh A.\"]Sounds like someone needed to knock this guy into next tuesday. Why didn't one of your members take him out if he was running around assaulting people? Confused

Posted: Wed 5-Apr-2006 20:41 Post subject:

seems like it was an unsafe scene...then it became \"safe\"...then unsafe again... what a situation to be in! glad ur all ok

Posted: Wed 5-Apr-2006 20:43 Post subject: Re:

[quote:67c61fc12c=\"bisho1p\"][quote:67c61fc12c=\"Hugh A.\"]Sounds like someone needed to knock this guy into next tuesday. Why didn't one of your members take him out if he was running around assaulting people?

Posted: Wed 5-Apr-2006 20:49 Post subject:

I tell you what Hugh, If I hadn't been manning the tanker and the dump tank operations, I would have put him under citizens arrest myself and used \"whatever force I see fit\" since assaulting a firefighter is a felony here., All I did was cut back the flow from the tanker so the dump tank wouldnt overflow, walked down to my truck to get some equipment, and damn near got killed.

Posted: Thu 6-Apr-2006 23:01 Post subject:

You know, I have a similar story to this. A couple weeks ago, we were hit pretty good with a tornado. We went to a residence where the gas line was knocked off and it was leaking pretty good. The home owner lit up a cigarette. He was told by our chief to put it out. He, slightly intoxicated, refused. Our chief told him again, but he refused. Two of our firefighters, standing there with inch and a halfs on stand by, put the fire out for him. The power of PSI can be used to more then fires out.

Posted: Fri 7-Apr-2006 20:03 Post subject:

UPDATE---(4/7/06) Follow-up article to follow... (MORGANTOWN--Courtesy The Dominion Post) \"Halleck Road property owner disputes VFD charges\" A Halleck Road man said he didn't do the things he's been accused of doing at a fire scene Tuesday. Michael S. Lucci, 59, said Thursday that he didn't assault a Triune-Halleck firefighter and a photographer from The Dominion Post as fire crews responded to a fire at an abandoned building owned by Lucci on Tuesday afternoon. State Assistant Fire Marshal Ronald \"Mackey\" Ayersman said authorities are considering whether or not to file charges against Lucci for the alleged assaults and for reportedly interfering with firefighters. Lucci, who lives on the same property as the burned structure, said he never intended to stop the firefighters from fighting the blaze. \"I didn't want to obstruct anyone,\" Lucci said. \"I didn't want them not to do their job.\" Lucci also claims he did not assault anyone. In the firefighter's case, Lucci said he tapped the man on the shoulder to get his attention and to point something out on the road. Lucci said he did not set the fire that burned down the abandoned building and rekindled Wednesday evening, either. \"Absolutely not,\" Lucci said. Because if I did, this is exactly what would be the result-- trouble.\" Lucci said a friend he hired was tearing the old structure down. Lucci said he doesn't know who set the blaze, but he does know that the building is frequently a target of graffiti artists. \"There's no insurance, no utilities,\" Lucci said. \"Somebody had to set the fire. There's no such thing as spontaneous combustion.\" Ayersman agreed that the fire was suspicious. \"Somebody has set fire to the house,\" Ayersman said. \"At this time, we're trying to figure out who.\" Lucci said he hopes the situation will resolve peacefully. \"It's one of those things. One day you see smoke, the next day, people are saying things you didn't do,\" Lucci said. Triune-Halleck VFD firefighters alleged Tuesday that Lucci told them to stop fighting the fire. Triune-Halleck VFD Chief Bob Koedam said Lucci hit Assistant Fire Chief Josh Morgan, yelled at firefighter Bob Thorn, and pushed The Dominion Post's photographer Bob Gay and went after Gay's camera. Lucci also acted disorderly toward Koedam, Koedam said. Koedam contacted MECCA 911 for police assistance at the scene. Last edited by bisho1p on Sat 8-Apr-2006 08:51; edited 1 time in total

Posted: Fri 7-Apr-2006 20:24 Post subject:

Liar Liar, abandoned house on fire!

Posted: Sat 8-Apr-2006 05:53 Post subject:

I am glad you are okay, some guy (although I want to call him much worse) like that that wants to cause trouble for you hard working fire fighters, and then try to run you down is someone that needs a Firewalker boot up his butt. I hope this guy gets some nice charges filed against him for it. He is lucky that he did not damage any of the apparatus. Some of the charges could include distruction of city/county property. In CA we have a penal code for that makes it against the law for anyone to get in the way of any firefighter, police officer, EMT, even goes onto cover telephone repair men, cable workers, gas workers, tow truck drivers, animal control, security, as long as they are in the course of their legal duties. And the repair people do not have to be city employeed.

Posted: Sat 15-Apr-2006 03:13 Post subject:

As it turns out, he was arrested yesterday, and posted bail shortly thereafter and was cut loose. About 4am this morning(Sat), our dept was toned out to a reported GSW/domestic violence call at his same address. We staged for about half an hour and were told we could return to service, as no one was shot(fortunately). I'm sorry, but this guy is F*cking nuts.

	eLightbars.org Forum -> The professional lounge	All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1