MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Two Montgomery County firefighters face malicious destruction and disorderly conduct charges after one admitted to flooding a local baseball field on July 17.
Police say thousands of gallons of water was sprayed from a fire engine, a scene captured in a viral video showing a high plume drenching the diamond, NBC Washington reported.
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A charging document says Fire Captain Christopher Reilly told two players who came to the station to object, “I wanted to get your attention.” He later explained to police that he flooded the field out of frustration after baseballs repeatedly hit personal vehicles and equipment at the adjacent fire station.
A second firefighter, Alan Barnes, is also charged. The charging document says Barnes backed the fire engine out of the firehouse and removed hose, after which the video shows Reilly atop the fire engine spraying the field for about three minutes.
The charging document notes that fans had already paid and arrived for the Cal Ripken League game, and they had to be refunded after the matchup was canceled.
Malicious destruction of property is punishable by up to three years in prison.
A Montgomery County Fire spokesperson told NBC Washington that both firefighters have been taken off duty and placed in non-public roles while the case proceeds.
What do you think should be the appropriate departmental or legal consequences in a case like this — and why?
