ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A volunteer firefighter was placed on administrative leave after allegedly throwing his helmet at a vehicle.
The 20-year-old firefighter was charged with a misdemeanor of malicious injury to personal property, and was later released on a $500 bond, The Times and Democrat reported.
According to an Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office report, the helmet shattered the windshield of a woman’s car. The two women inside were transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle crash where a tree fell and blocked the street May 12. Firefighters used a chainsaw to remove the tree, while others directed traffic.
“The members observed one vehicle that appeared not to be obeying warning devices. The member made three attempts to gain the driver’s attention. As the member was jumping out of the way of the approaching vehicle, the incident report states the helmet was removed and threw it toward the victim’s car,” the fire department wrote in a statement.
“He said they were going too fast but why didn’t he stop everyone else in front of them? He was very irate,” said Lakeshia Morgan, the mother of the passenger in the car.
However, the firefighter claimed that the vehicle was not slowing down despite being told to do so, and he “feared for (his) life and his fellow firefighter’s life.”
“I want the story to be told. His actions were unnecessary. He is supposed to serve and protect us when we are in need of him when he is actually doing more harm than good,” Morgan said.