DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --
A Volusia County firefighter is under criminal and internal investigation for beating up another firefighter. It happened inside Daytona Beach's main fire station on Christmas Day.
The fight happened while the two firefighters were on duty. Fire Chief Jim Bland says the two firefighters work separate shifts, but they sometimes cross paths at Fire Station 1.
Bland says firefighter John McInarney struck fellow firefighter Dwayne Thibeault in the head after the two got into an argument over dirty equipment. The chief says an internal investigation was started, but Thibeault, the alleged victim, thought it wasn't being done fast enough so he went to the Daytona Beach Police Department.
On Friday, Thibeault filed a report and the State Attorney's Office is now reviewing the case.
WFTV tracked down McInarney at his apartment, but he would not comment on the case.
Residents were concerned to hear about the fight, but said they don't believe public safety was ever at risk. The chief says the case went before an incident review board in January, but the board wanted more information.
Board members will discuss the incident again at this month's meeting before making recommendations to the chief about possible disciplinary actions.
Neither of the firefighters have had any disciplinary problems since they started at the station in 2009. Prosecutors say they can either proceed with the third degree felony charge of battery on a firefighter, go with a misdemeanor battery charge, or drop the case.
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