Fort Worth Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH, Texas — A 31-year veteran firefighter has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest Sunday on allegations that he injured a child.
Engineer Ken Flowers, 60, was arrested by Fort Worth police after officers were dispatched to a home in the 7500 block of Little Rock Lane in east Fort Worth on an assault call about 3:40 p.m. Sunday.
“Officers investigated a dispute between neighbors,” police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Peel wrote in an email.
Peel declined to release any further information, citing the active investigation, but witnesses told FOX 4 that Flowers had allegedly fired a BB gun at several children who had been sitting in his yard splitting Halloween candy.
An 11-year-old boy told FOX 4 that at least two of his friends were hit.
Flowers, who has since been released from jail, did not return a telephone message Monday seeking comment.
The fire department is conducting an internal investigation into the matter and is also monitoring the police department’s criminal investigation, according to a press release issued Monday morning.
Vernon Maxwell, who has lived next door to Flowers for 25 years, said he does not believe the allegations against his neighbor.
“He’s a swell guy,” Maxwell said. “I wouldn’t want anybody else to live next to me. I don’t think anybody could be any better than he is.”
Maxwell said Flowers attends church on Sundays and, when not working at the fire department, drives a school bus for the Keller school district.
“He’s one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet,” Maxwell said.
Bryce Nieman, a spokesman for the Keller school district, said Flowers is a substitute bus driver who has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation against him.
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