Above is the raw cell phone video of the take-down recorded by Jodie Smith.
More from WFXT-TV
Something tells me there isn’t going to be a lot of sympathy on this forum for the man being wrestled to the ground by firefighters from Boston’s Ladder 26. That man, identified by friend Nicholas Duncan as James, is accused of stealing a helmet from the rig and then pushing a firefighter in the chest as he tried to flee.
According to WFXT-TV, Nicholas Duncan says that James was injured when he was roughed up by firefighters who slammed his head into the pavement. A police report says the injuries came when James ran into a pole. WFXT-TV says that Duncan does not dispute who stole the helmet. According to Duncan the helmet ended up in his backpack after James and another man took it.
Jodie Smith, a bystander who took the video, claims a firefighter confronted and pushed him.
The video above is the story from WFXT-TV.
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Yet another case of let’s protect the CRIMINAL! Bet he will be a millionaire soon!
I don’t think so, unless there is some stronger evidence than this.
Statter
I think you can hear him hit the sign or pole at the beginning of the tape. There is a loud bang as the guy comes around the bus bench.
Just don’t push and yell at the camera guy. You gotta know that you are in a public place, in a public job…someone is going to be videotaping you. Just ask him to stand out of the way and if you want, explain that the guy is a thief. Don’t act like you can stop him from filming. Otherwise, all they do is grab the guy and hold him down. No biggie there.
He’s lucky, that is almost the equivalent to trying to steal a MC vest. Honestly we work for those helmets, ain’t right trying to steal one, personally i think he should have been tossed around a bit more.
Been a tuff few weeks for Ladder 26 . There new rig got juiced by primary line at a job. No seriuos injuries but as story states stick melted in two spots not sure about real damage, then this.
Can’t blame them for going after thief. So right you are Dave remember cams are everywhere today.
I’m sorry but stealing a Fireman’s helmet is like stealing a rifle from a Marine. The helmet is sacred to a fireman and the day they put one on the shelf is a somber one indeed. Kudos to these guys from Ladder 26 for taking it so easy on the thief, I doubt it would have been that pretty if it were my helmet. Hope that scumbag gets everything he deserves.
I guess the women filming would be okay with filming the death of someone hanging out a window in 26 Trucks first due because they were out of service because the member did not have all his gear?
People with videos are getting out of control. Yeah she got them taking down a CRIMINAL and doing it much softer than I would have at that, but she did not get the CRIMINAL stealing the man’s safety equipment and putting the lives of the citizens of Boston at risk. One sided coverage by bystanders AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see that he got tuned up a little bit, rightfully deserved. Hopefully the crew gets off of any charges or suspension against them and this other terd is prosecuted.
I thing the bang in the beginning is the truck door closing. Watch the people at the bus stop on the bench, their are barely even watching, they certainly are not upset by this “brutal beating”.
This is on the heels of Boston PD getting a bad wrap for an arrest last week. All caught on cell phone video.
I think the brothers showed great restraint. Didn’t look like much of a beating to me. The cameraman started shooting from across the street, at night. Yeah, he was in a real good position to see everything.
The guy tried to steal something. The firefighters attempted to get it back. If this idiot thought he would get away with this without being chased tackled or otherwise physically restrained then he is delusional. I hope that nothing happens to the firefighters.
Boo freakin’ hoo.
Don’t steal and you won’t get taken down.
Had the cops been there, they would have tazed the guy, pepper sprayed him and tackled him.
I bet he is a democrat and supports Obama……he deserves what he got……and more!!!
I’d like the find the P-O-S that took my leather helmet out of my gear locker! I wouldn’t care if someone filmed it.
That dude needs his head beat in.
Save the race baiting, save the politics. The individual allegedly stole the brother’s helmet. For that they should have held him for the police and let the BPD do their thing. Those in the fire service should always remember that a camera is rolling…..and you can not tell them not to. Better yet, calm down and use them to document what a nice guy you are by making sure this thief isn’t on the streets but in the hands of the police. Did I see any assault but the BFD members….nope.
Oh yeah, and feel free to proofread before hitting “send”.
This is what the world is coming to, they were probably set up, that chick was probably waiting to “just be in the right place”
I am so sick of this nancy society….and this is what our grandfathers fought for in WW2….makes me sick
Darren,
What chick are you talking about? Other than then woman sitting on the bench, I missed any women involved in this story.
Statter
I think he is reading into the name. I believe the camera guy is referred to as “Jodie” something. If you watch the Boston news station’s coverage there is more video, and you see that Jodie is a man.
Thank you Stuart. I forgot about the name. I’m sure you are right about the reason for the confusion.
Darren, I didn’t get the impression that Jodie was involved with them. Seemed like one of many, many people out there with a cell phone camera and an opinion. But, of course, I could be wrong.
Passions get inflamed when the adrenalin is pumping in trying to handle a situation like this. While I may be stating the obvious, it doesn’t help your case to get into it with the photographer. It can make you look bad even when you are right.
Statter
I only take issue with the handling of the person with the camera. As mentioned already, no need to start acting like a cop to someone that hasn’t done anything. These days we have a bulls eye on the back of our turnouts, don’t give the media a reason to make things worse!
Why aren’t they wearing safety vests? Never can be too safe.
You guys sound like Hulk Hogan. Brother! Brother! Brother!
I’m sure he was good boy,an honor student and this will be the last time something like this happens.
Quite disgusting the amount of scum in the world these days. I can totaly understand what the guys on 26 did, i think most wouldnt of held back as they did. But im sure glad we had people ready and willing to throw the boys right under the bus for what they did.
I’m unaware of any “excessive-force” rules in the fire department.
POS’s like that need to be hit in the face with the business end of a haligan…DON’T Touch a Fireman’s lid!!!
If he wasn’t a friggin’ thief he wouldn’t have to worry about getting taken down, would he?
Rock on! He got less than he deserved.
Try to take something out of my ambulance…..The truck crew did NOTHING wrong in my opinion.
The “Hunington Ave Express” has been through a lot in the last couple of years. They lost one of the best leaders they had in a tragic catastrophic failure of their brakes on the Ladder truck. No one deserves to have their property stolen. But, when it comes to a Fireman’s helmet. In my opinion that is like my gun. If you attempt to take that important piece of my equipment. You will be dealt with swiftly and without regards for your safety. Remember, that this guy was trying to flee. It wasn’t like they had the helmet back and the guy sat down to wait for punishment. He committed a crime and sworn Personnel were taking action. They can use force necessary to hold that person till Police arrive. Never mind the fact that the loser deserved a good beating. As usual the news needs to sell ad space. The way they do that is to make stories bigger than they really are.
Lt Kevin Kelley”s Funeral can be seen here> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezUg530peaQ
Hey Herman…..what a f**kin idiot!!
Let’s review. You’re a thief who feels the need to go into an emergency vehicle and take a piece of safety equipment which happens to be a source of pride and honor in the service. You got caught. “My bad, here’s your helment back kind sir.” You expect to just give it back and run away?
If he got a beating, he deserved one – however I find this one of the gentlest takedowns I’ve seen in 10 years of work. Here’s a tissue, go cry to someone who cares. And don’t f&*k with the fire department.
they should of draged him from behind the truck up and down huntington ave. they should of smashed that camera phone right off that kids head, and punched that gril in the face to.
Looks like a Citizen’s Arrest to me!!
This goes back years. My sister and brother inlaws went to Boston for college. This is a sorority prank.
A good helmet cost over $500.00 that makes stealing one a FELONY. What was this guy going to do with it Impersonate a firefighter and due who knows what evil. The guy is a felon and felon’s need to be dealt with swiftly. That’s whats wrong with the country people want to baby the felon’s and bully the good guy.
I think they should have knocked the hell out of him. Some people have not respect for the Firefighters and think they can get away with anything. I just hope the man that got put on the ground learned, not to mess with peoples stuff.
If he didn’t take it in the 1st place this would have never happened. So we blame it on the fireman????? I doubt it, ……. They should have given him a better tune up!
The brothers should quite a bit of restraint. I’ve seen worse beat downs on the scene