Man dressed only in underwear attacks firefighters inside Toledo, OH firehouse
A bizarre series of events this (Thursday) morning at a Toledo firehouse. It started around 5:00 am when a man, dressed only in his underwear tried to get into an ambulance being backed into Station 23 at Laskey and Douglas. It ended a short time later with a fight inside the firehouse as police and firefighters tried to subdue Bradford Lewis. Police used a taser on Lewis and also accidentally shocked a firefighter. The firefighter was treated and released from a local hospital, but Lewis was seriously injured during the confrontation.
According to Toledo Fire Department officials, two firefighters were backing a medic unit into the garage while returning from a call, a man in his underwear tried to get in the driver area by entering through the rear of the unit. The firefighters in the unit stopped the vehicle and exited. The suspect chased one firefighter while the other ran inside to alert crew members. The firefighter being chased was able to escape the suspect, who then hid in the bushes nearby. The Captain ordered the station to be secured and Toledo police were called. While trying to close the overhead door, the suspect charged the firefighters.
The firefighters then tackled him and tried to hold him as he kept fighting. Police arrived minutes later and used a Taser gun on him, inadvertently also shocking one of the firefighters who were assisting them in the scuffle with the suspect, authorities said.
The suspect’s motive was unclear, authorities said during a news conference today at Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, 545 N. Huron St. in downtown Toledo.
But a Toledo police report said that Mr. Lewis reportedly attempted to take a fire department vehicle. Lieutenant Gerken said the suspect lives near the fire station.
Lewis has been charged with two counts of injuring an officer and one count of aggravated burglary.
There were 5 firefighters in Station 23 at the time of the attack.
Toledo investigators will be reaching out the FBI on this case.
