In a strange turn of events in Maryland, two firefighters have landed in hot water—or should we say, they created a flood—after one of them was caught on video spraying down a baseball field with a fire truck’s high-pressure hose. The shocking footage sparked outrage among locals.
The issue arose when a frustrated firefighter took radical action against home run balls that repeatedly landed in the parking lot of a fire station. Captured on video, the firefighter aimed the hose at the field and let it rip for almost three minutes, leading to property damage worth over $1,000 and the cancellation of two home games.
Longtime local attorney Jessica Zarrella was astounded by the incident. “It’s ridiculous to think kids are taught to trust firefighters, and then this happens!” she exclaimed.
Now, as police files charge the firefighter and his partner—who allegedly helped back the truck up during this July incident—Zarrella is contemplating how to defend them. “That was some careless behavior. But does it warrant jail time? No way,” she added.
Other defense attorneys, not involved in this case, echoed her thoughts when interviewed about the charges. According to attorney Steven Silverman, even if the firefighters plead guilty, their side of the story could be viewed as acceptable, especially considering that errant baseballs had harmed property before.
“They were just acting out of frustration,” Silverman pointed out. “I think they thought a little water could teach a lesson.”
Court documents named the two firefighters involved: Captain Christopher J. Reilly and Master Firefighter Alan K. Barnes, both from a Silver Spring station near the Capital Beltway. They have been slapped with three misdemeanor charges: disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property over $1,000, and conspiracy to commit property damage.
Barnes’s attorney, Richard Finci, claims his client was simply obeying orders from his boss. “He moved the truck and started hooking up the hose just because he was told to,” insisted Finci, emphasizing that Barnes never actually sprayed the hose as he left for another call shortly after.
Reilly, on the other hand, has not publicly commented, and there’s no word on whether he has legal representation.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service has said they are taking the situation seriously while cooperating with the ongoing investigation. They’ve put both firefighters on leave from operational duties during an internal review.
The Montgomery County Park Police started looking into the case after a game was scheduled between the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the Metro SoCo Braves, two teams from the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, where big aspirations and wood bats collide.
Team practices had to be halted when at least one baseball flew foul and hit the station’s lot. Two months after the investigation commenced, formal charges were filed against both Reilly and Barnes, with their preliminary hearing set for October 21.
According to police reports, Reilly’s actions stemmed from escalated frustration over repeated incidents involving baseballs striking fire department equipment and personal vehicles.
Reviewing footage provided by the fire department, police noted that it clearly showed Barnes operating the fire truck, backing it into the lot, and making the setup to unleash the hose aimed at the field.
It’s reported that someone from the baseball team confronted Reilly, stopping the inundation. Dick O’Conner, the team’s founder, shared that the game had to result in refunds for fans.
Legal insiders like Zarrella and others suggest the case may resolve with the firefighters providing restitution and possibly some community service, arguing against a harsher treatment simply due to their profession.
Expert Paulette Pagán emphasized that jail time is unlikely since misdemeanors generally don’t carry hard sentences unless it’s a more serious affair.
