Posted on 11/05/2005 5:47:19 AM PST by texianyankee
A drunken firefighter plowed a stolen truck yesterday into the Chelsea set of Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone's controversial film about 9/11, police said. No one was hurt in the wild early morning incident.
Probationary firefighter Eugene Scharf, 26, bolted from the scene and was caught only after a teamster, a TV cameraman and a bodyguard for actor Nicolas Cage chased him down nearly two blocks away, police said.
When he was finally stopped, Scharf, who lives in a luxury apartment tower in Murray Hill and is a Harvard graduate, tried to talk his way out of trouble by offering cash, said bodyguard Benjamin Washington.
"I caught up with him and he kept saying, 'Don't you know who my family is? Don't you know who my family is?' " he said. "Then he said, 'I'll give you money. I have money, I'll give $10,000 if you let me go.'
"Man, I don't care who his family is, he hit a car, a building, and almost hit people, and then he tried to run away," Washington added. "If his family is so powerful, then why did he run?"
A police source said Scharf blew a .176 on a Breathalyzer test.
Investigators said Scharf's boneheaded actions did not seem to stem from any anger over Stone's contentious film, but was just a coincidence.
The movie has stirred some resentment among 9/11 victims' families and firefighters because of Stone's love of blame-America conspiracy theories.
Stone took the incident in stride. "I'm just glad no one was hurt," he told The Post.
Scharf's escapade began at around 5:30 a.m. when he allegedly stole the heavy-duty construction vehicle at West 40th Street and 10th Avenue. He drove down 14th Street and raced toward the set between Eighth and Ninth avenues.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
...a gloriously career-limiting move, to be sure.
Wow, that's an impressive morning!
I hope the truck wasnt damaged.
I agree with the guy's outrage and Oliver Stoned is a wanker who will probably distort the 9/11 events into some stupid liberal political statement, but you can't solve your problems by getting drunk and crashing vehicles into things. You won't win by doing that.
I'm wondering if this firefighter guy was part of some larger conspiracy?
Unfortunately, it appears to be tragic irony that he crashed into the movie set...
So what's the message?
Boycott this film when it is released.
Ted Kennedy, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
I blame Bush
Considering Oliver Stone's reputation, don't be surprised if he edits this yahoo into the film as a "first responder".
Haha.. that's not impressive.. I think I'd blow a 2+ and it's only 10 am
I bet the prosecutor cares who his family is. I also bet the guy walks for under $10,000.
What a country.
When he rammed the wall, it went back and to the left.
Back and to the left.
Clearly, there had to be a second spolied drunken idiot.
Now that's funny. I don't care who you are.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.