MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Two Montgomery County firefighters were found not guilty of charges stemming from a July incident in which water from a fire engine hose at a nearby station flooded the Montgomery Blair High School baseball field in Silver Spring.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Captain Chris Reilly and Firefighter Alan Barnes were charged Sept. 22 with three misdemeanors: malicious destruction of property, conspiracy to commit it and disorderly conduct. The career firefighters, assigned to Silver Spring VFD Station 16, were suspended pending an internal investigation, WTOP reported.
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Bethesda Today reported that on Nov. 7, Montgomery County District Court Judge Rand Gelber dismissed the charges against Barnes, then acquitted Reilly, citing “insufficient evidence” that the field was damaged by the flooding.
“You’re an innocent man,” Gelber told Barnes.
After the trial, Reilly’s attorney, Rand Lucey, said the firefighter was satisfied with the outcome and glad more details had come to light, though he was not proud of his conduct. Reilly remains suspended from the department.
The case drew national attention to the county fire department over the summer, at a time when it was already facing scrutiny for other incidents, including a crew damaging a firetruck after driving it into floodwaters and an employee posting a racist comment on social media.
What’s your view? Is the judge’s decision the right decision?
