Click here for previous coverage of this story
On Thursday, we told you about the fight between firefighters from the Sea Bright Fire Department in New Jersey that occurred inside the firehouse last October 9 that has now gone to trial. The battle pitted two brother firefighters, Peter and Steven Lang, against another firefighter, Justin Hughes. It happened after the wetdown celebration and water fight pictured in the video above.
At Thursday's hearing, a different video was featured. It reportedly shows the firefighters going at it. It comes from a department surveillance camera mounted inside the firehouse bar.
According to an article by Dustin Racioppa at redbankgreen.com, the video first shows Steven Lang and Hughes getting into a shoving match at the bar at 8:41 PM. But municipal prosecutor Mike Halfacre said things calmed down when someone else broke up the fight.
Reporter Racioppa says volunteer firefighter Aaron Rock testified that Lang left the building after telling Hughes that they should go outside and handle this. Here's more from Racioppa's article:
That’s when Lang’s brother, Peter, 33, approached Hughes and said something to the effect of, “If you have a problem with my brother, you have a problem with me,” Rock told the court.
“At that point he lunged at Justin,” said Rock, who is also a patrolman in Monmouth Beach police.
Which is what the video showed. Steven Lang had by then — at 8:43 p.m. — re-entered the bar and joined in what Halfacre called a “scrum” in a corner of the lounge, and “Steven Lang came into view and the two Lang brothers essentially have Hughes surrounded.”
Steven Lang then put Hughes in a headlock, which is when Rock tried to break up the fight. Another firefighter, Patrick “P.J.” Covert, broke Steven Lang away from Hughes, and almost simultaneously Peter Lang took Hughes down to the ground, and said, “Did you have enough or do you want me to choke you out?” Covert said.
Hughes went for medical help that night. According to the article, the injuries have kept Hughes from firefighting since that night. A report filed with police the next day resulted in the simple assault charges against the Lang brothers that brought this trial. Steven Lang then filed harassment and disorderly conduct charges against Hughes.
The trial has been continued until June 16. Fire department promotions for both of the Lang brothers have been held up because of the court case.This leaves the ranks of assistant chief and second lieutenant unfilled in the Sea Bright Fire Department.
Also on STATter911 …
- Day in court for the Sea Bright, New Jersey wetdown assaults. Judge’s ruling allows two brothers to hold onto rank. – October 7, 2011
- Wetdown gone bad. Sea Bright, New Jersey firefighters in court for assault. – May 5, 2011
- Macon-Bibb County FD’s Stephanie Burke now demoted to lieutenant because of prank on rookies. New information on the former captain’s role. – September 30, 2011
- Raw video: Former Macon-Bibb County Firefighter Christopher Hughes continues to tell his version of the rookie prank that cost him his job. Claims captain asked him to bring in BB gun. – October 1, 2011
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Not a lot of information here but when you mix alcohol and egos, the results are predictable. In this day and age there are still bars in firehouses and they just don't promote a positive perception - and alcohol and firefighting do not mix, period.
As a veteran firefighter in NJ serving as both paid and volunteer I question why any fire house still as a bar in it. Whether you run 1 call or 1,000 calls there is no place for alcohol in the firehouse.
Hey Morons ! Grow up and become professional !! Embarrassment to the community !!!
I'm troubled by the comment that their promotions are being "held up". I would expect that regardless of the legal outcome, any promotions should be completely off the table for unprofessional conduct alone.
I wander why they had a video camera in the bar at their firehouse, jeepers I wander if this has ever happened before. Strong Work gentlemen, strong work.
Wow. Is it possible to ever be any more un professional than this group of guys with turnout gear. I can not call them firefighters. This is an embarrassment to all firefighters, paid or volunteer. Im proud to be a volunteer and proud to be a fireman but this is unacceptable behavior. Be the inspiration to the community not the laughing stock of it.
It's all fun and games until someone loses and eye.
Simple solution. Infantile conduct unbecoming…give them their walking papers and tell them to never come back. This is what happens when you have people of limited intelligence allowed near alcohol. No place in the modern fire service for these three people or the alcohol.
Promotions being held up? Why would anyone promote these idiots? Get them and the bar out of the firehouse!
Just an observation from a 25 year vet of the EMS side of the house, paid professional and also a long time “volly”: We all (volunteer as well as paid) need to tighten up our game. The public is viewing the Fire service as a money pit, the press portrays it as a huge fraternity and not in a good way, think Animal House. The politicians see an easy way to cut funding and make themselves look good. Stuff like this will bite your department in the ass.
Here in NYC, and on Long Island, every aspect of our profession is being put under a microscope, from members behavior both on and off duty (alcohol +uniforms+lack of judgment =headlines) to procurement of equipment and facilities. This is happening to both paid and volunteer, regardless of which side of the house, EMS or Fire. Fact is we are no longer bring viewed as essential parts of the community, rather we are viewed as a necessary evil, that tends to suck limited fiscal resources away from hard working taxpayers. Thus we are the target of the day. Stuff like this does not help anyone wearing the uniform.
We need to change the culture. And that quickly.
Be safe out there.
I'm not from the Northeast, where these are most common, but can someone explain the tradition of the wet down to me? I don't understand why you spray water on a new truck while it sits there and you make everyone's eardrums bleed with the Q. I'm not against most fire service traditions… but I just don't understand this one.
The town in Jaws was based on the corruption in Sea Bright. What do you expect.