MD career firefighter convicted of pulling gun on repo men

A career firefighter in Prince George’s County, Maryland faces up to 10-years in jail after pulling a gun on two men who tried to repossess his car. A jury on Tuesday took three hours to convict 44-year-old Carlos Johns of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and the use of a handgun in a crime.

This stems from an incident on October 30, 2007 when Wade Gross and Keith Stokes attempted to repossess Johns’ 2003 Merecedes Benz from the firefighter’s home in Fort Washington. The car had been used as collateral on a loan.

According to a statement released by the office of Prince George’s County States Attorney Glenn Ivey, Johns confronted the men with a hand gun before driving off in the vehicle. Police arrested Johns a short time later. A neighbor witnessed the entire incident.

The bond for Johns was revoked and he is currently in the Prince George’s County Detention Center.

Contacted Tuesday evening, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady was unable to provide information on Johns’ status or assignment as a firefighter. When asked what action was taken after the October 30 arrest, Brady wrote in an email, “Due to the serious charges against the firefighter, appropriate disciplinary action was taken immediately upon the arrest you mention”.

On Wednesday Brady added the following:

Mr. Johns was not on duty as a firefighter when this incident occurred; he did not represent himself as a firefighter, nor was he on fire department property when the crime occurred. He was a citizen that committed a crime and is now paying the price for that crime, at the time charges were filed and an arrest was made he was employed by the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. Appropriate and swift disciplinary action was taken by the Fire/EMS Department against Carlos Johns commensurate with the crimes he was charged with. The Fire/EMS Department is not able to provide any additional information as these are personnel matters.

Mark Brady indicated the Office of Law STATter 911 would have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to learn more about Carlos Johns employment history and status.

Note from STATter 911: Previously, work status and assignments have been something the department has often provided concerning career and volunteer staff without requiring a FOIA request.