Two D.C. firefighters were charged with assault Tuesday for the caught-on-camera attack of a man in April that police said started when the man punched a member of the fire crew.
D.C. Superior Court released Lt. Sean Sinon, 48, and rookie firefighter Reden Ecleo, 21, on their recognizance after they were charged with simple assault.
Both firefighters are accused of beating a 43-year-old man who was on the scene of a distress call at 14 Florida Avenue NW on April 25.
Fire crews were administering Narcan to two individuals while the man was “punching a fence and became upset” at D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department responders.
The man became aggressive with firefighters while they were assisting the two individuals, then “struck Lt. Sinon … twice in the face with a closed fist, unprovoked,” according to court documents.
Lt. Sinon is accused of swinging at the man seven times in response. Several firefighters took the man to the ground, where Lt. Sinon punched him twice, court documents say.
Mr. Ecleo kicked the man in the head and put his knee on the man’s head, the documents say. Responding police officers had to push Mr. Ecleo away from the man.
Last Night in NW DC. # Code3DMV pic.twitter.com/ZRmAFgy6VC</ a>
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A witness at the scene told police that the man had smoked K2 and was placing his arms under a bus in an attempt to get the bus to run over him. According to court documents, the witness said that the man “started so much s—-, [firefighters] jumped him.”
“D.C. Firefighters are trained in promoting community safety through fire prevention, fire suppression, and emergency medical services, frequently risking their own lives in service to this great city,” a statement from the D.C. Firefighters Association, Local 36, said. “However, it is important to clarify that their training does not include strategies for de-escalating situations of physical violence — an unfortunate reality they found themselves in during this instance.”
The man was arrested on assault charges, which were dropped shortly afterward.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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