Posted on 12/07/2005 7:04:19 AM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
A 29-year-old Strongsville man says an out-of-control Cleveland firefighter punched out four of his front teeth last week at the scene of a car wreck.
Marc Huff rushed to Dead Man's Curve Thursday where his girlfriend's car was crunched and spun around. His girlfriend was not seriously hurt.
But Huff left the scene in a police car, under arrest for misconduct in an emergency. He pleaded not guilty to the misde meanor charge Tuesday.
And he filed complaints with the Fire Department and the city against firefighters.
A fire inves tigator's com plaint, filed in Cleveland Mu nicipal Court, states that Huff's car nearly clipped one of the firefighters as he raced to the scene. It also states that Huff initially refused to leave the scene and then nearly drove over firefighters again.
Then the 5-foot-9, 130-pound IRS tax collector started a physical altercation with several firefighters, according to fire Detective Joseph Stevens' report.
Cleveland police, who took Huff to jail, don't mention that altercation in their report. The police report says Huff was "grabbed and subdued" by firemen because he was disorderly.
Neither report makes mention of Huff's teeth being knocked from his mouth.
A Fire Department spokesman and a spokesperson for the public safety department said they were not sure the arresting fire detectives had made a report, and if so, whether they could release it.
"Like all complaints, we are taking this very seriously," Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray said.
Huff said when he tried to leave the scene, one of the firefighters slammed his helmet on the hood of Huff's car and reached through the window to punch him in the mouth. When Huff exited the car, one firefighter shoved him, another put him in a chokehold, a third forced his hands behind his back, and they slammed him against his car, he said.
"I was spitting out blood and saying, 'Please get off my neck. You're going to break my neck,' " Huff says.
Huff said one firefighter replied, "I hope I break your (expletive) neck."
Shante Jones, the daughter of Huff's girlfriend, also raced to the accident scene. Jones, her mother and a friend had been at The Q watching a tennis match between Venus and Serena Williams and were headed home in separate cars, Jones said.
Firefighters cursed at Huff and told him to get away from the scene, she said. She saw seven or eight men surround Huff, who was bleeding from the mouth. An arson detective took pictures of Huff's mouth and tried to help him locate his teeth, Jones said.
"I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion," she said. "Everyone was panicking. He wasn't trying to hurt anyone, and there's no reason they had to hurt him."
The police report does not name the firefighters involved in the altercation. Police Lt. Thomas Stacho said police don't have additional information on the arrest because the Fire Department arrested Huff. At the Justice Center, Huff was inexplicably booked as a felony offender, even though he was charged with a misdemeanor.
After Huff made bond and was released from jail - almost 15 hours later - he went to a hospital in Willoughby, where he was treated for tooth extraction, neck pain and physical assault, according to discharge papers from the emergency room.
Huff also visited a dentist for some temporary partial dentures that have left him with a lisp, he said.
"I thought public officials should be held to a higher standard," Huff said. "It's sad that they acted that way. The whole situation sucks."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
rdissell@plaind.com, 216-999-4121
I'm finding it real hard to feel sorry for this guy.
He had it comin'.
Then the 5-foot-9, 130-pound IRS tax collector started a physical altercation with several firefighters
Not only did he endanger people's lives, he's a professional thief as well.
It's the bolded part where I start rooting for the firefighter.
Then the 5-foot-9, 130-pound IRS tax collector started a physical altercation with several firefighters, according to fire Detective Joseph Stevens' report.
I'm findin' it real hard to feel sorry for this guy.
GMTA
He's an IRS tax collector. He had it coming even if he was not disorderly or aggressive.
FFWTD
(Fast Fingers Win The Day)
Thick glasses. Rumpled suit. Whiney voice. Never been laid.
Kinda like Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters, but without the charm.
At 5 foot 9, 130 pounds, maybe he felt he had something to prove, with his girlfriend looking at all those manly firefighters. (*chuckle*)
You know how some really insecure guys yet.
Maybe he felt he had to be a big man and show how tough and bad he was, and got his teeth knocked out for it. (which tends to happen in those cases)
Sounds like he was acting erratic right from the jump.
It's funny for the first few seconds, then it's just annoying (and painful for them).
Isn't a IRS Tax-collecter a pubic official too. Yes Mr. Huff, you should be held to a higher standard and should have conducted your self with more dignity.
I was a volunteer fireman in a rural department for ten years. I frequently had a migraine the day after responding to a call -- my body's way of processing excess adrhenalin. It's a high-intensity environment, a contest played for higher stakes than any football game. The most dangerous thing I ever did was tackle brush fires with guys half my age. I'd end up exhausted on top of a hill, leaning on the fire rake, wondering where I'd get the energy to walk back DOWN that hill!
You're not dealing with construction workers at an accident scene, but with incredibly focused, energized, and passionate men. Not wise to interfere.
I agree...sounds like he asked for it
all he wants 4 christmas is his 4 front teeth
Definately having a bad day!
I want to go to his house and punch him myself.
I hate him.
Haha. I'll bet his girlfriend is a real charm, too.
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