Off-duty CA Firefighters Arrested After Melee with Police
Source East Bay Times
WALNUT CREEK — Two Contra Costa firefighters and their companions were arrested early Sunday morning in a hotel room after a drunken attack that injured two Walnut Creek police officers, police said Tuesday.
The melee happened around 5 a.m., just hours after the Second Annual Firefighters Ball at the Marriott Walnut Creek hotel had ended. Hotel staff called police to the building on the 2300 block of North Main Street to report that drunk guests refused to leave, Walnut Creek police Lt. Lanny Edwards said.
When officers reached the hotel room, Contra Costa Fire engineer Andrew Desmond, 31, put one of the cops into a headlock, starting a large fight, Edwards said.
“Probably because of intoxication, he put his hands on an officer and struck the officer and a big fight ensued,” Edwards said.
Two Walnut Creek officers and Desmond suffered minor injuries, he said.
Desmond was eventually arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, public intoxication and trespassing. Firefighter Lontavious Johnson, 32, along with Leah Mendaros, 35, and Shirlee Johnson, 33, were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, trespassing and obstruction. Mendaros was also arrested on suspicion of striking a hotel security officer during the fracas, Edwards said.
All four posted bailed and are no longer in custody, Edwards said.
“We are aware of the incident and we placed two employees on administrative leave pending further investigation,” said Contra Costa Fire spokesman Robert Marshall. He declined to discuss details of the incident but stressed that the arrests happened hours after the party had ended.
The charity ball, hosted by the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County Local 1230, was held Saturday at the Marriott from 6 to 11 p.m. with proceeds going to the Bikes for Tykes program. The event was advertised as dinner, dancing, auctions and guest speakers; tickets were $100 per person.
———
©2016 the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Visit the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) at www.eastbaytimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
