FF Engle to the rescue, but not everyone sees it that way
A day after our interview with FF Jerry Engle about his role on the controversial videos from Kentland VFD, assault charges were brought against Engle. The charges were filed on Tuesday by a man who lives just a few doors from the Bladensburg firehouse where Engle is currently a volunteer firefighter. It appears there is no connection between the neighbor’s claims and the recent stories involving Engle.
From conversations with Engle, police sources in Bladensburg and Prince George’s County Fire & EMS Department officials, we have pieced together a rather unusual story.
The incident that sparked the charges happened on July 2. Jerry Engle tells STATter 911 he intervened on behalf of an approximately 6-year- old child who claimed that a 69-year-old man who lives near the firehouse had committed a crime involving that child. Engle confronted the man and held him until the Bladensburg Police Department arrived.
Sorting out the details, Bladensburg police officers did not find enough evidence to warrant an arrest and let the man go.
On Tuesday, the man who Engle had detained, filed charges of 2nd degree assault and false imprisonment. Court records show a summons was issued to Engle.
There is also a “peace order” that instructs Engle he shall not abuse, contact or enter the home of the person who filed the charges. The order expires on July 22.
Other fire and police sources generally confirm Engle’s account of the incident.
When contacted, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady indicated no action is being taken against FF Engle:
The Fire/EMS Department reviews each charge brought against its membership and makes a decision to remove the person from public contact/emergency operations suspension based on the merits of the charges. In this particular case, the Fire/EMS Department is taking no action against Jerry Engle in relationship to criminal charges filed against him for this incident.
As for the Kentland VFD videos, where Engle had a bottle rocket launched off of his naked backside, Engle said so far there has been no disciplinary action concerning his role. FF Engle previously told us he deserved to be punished for the antics caught on tape.
