By O’Ryan Johnson
The Boston Herald
Copyright 2007 Boston Herald Inc.
BOSTON — Boston police officers used pepper spray and a baton to subdue a charging Hub firefighter who was outraged that cops were attempting to arrest his son in the middle of a huge cookout, according to a police report.
The firefighter, Andre Bridges, 44, of Dorchester, was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a police officer. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in Roxbury District Court.
“They was chasing my son,’' Bridges told the Herald. “I saw them chasing my son, so I went chasing them to see what was going to happen, to make sure they weren’t going to beat him. I’m his father.’'
Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said Bridges has been out injured in a line-of-duty accident since January and would not be suspended from work unless he is indicted.
According to a police report, cops responded to a call for shots fired on Dale Street Sunday about 6:48 p.m. and chased Bridges’ son, who was fleeing the area. The suspect ran into Malcolm X Park where his family and up to 300 other people were having a cookout. One officer caught the suspect, and dragged him to the ground when a crowd of about 20 that included Bridges, formed around him and began yelling at him, police said. A second officer arrived to help and saw Bridges ram the arresting officer with his shoulder. After many warnings to get back, one of the cops pulled out pepper spray and at that the mob turned angry, with one person saying, “If you spray that (expletive) I am going to (expletive) you up,’' police said.
Bridges and other members of the crowd were sprayed, at which point Bridges got up and charged police shouting, “That’s my son and I’m a firefighter.’' One of the officers knocked him back with a baton, but Bridges charged again.
Bridges was arrested, but his son was not charged, police said. Bridges, a 19-year BFD veteran assigned to Ladder 9, said he has already apologized to the officer.