Hawaii FF Says Man Started Scuffle

HONOLULU --

Police reports shed new light into what started a fight between a Waimanalo firefighter and a 52-year-old man Sunday night.

Glen Murray accuses the firefighter of attacking him at the Waimanalo District Park as firefighters responded to a possible brushfire between the park and the Kauhale Ohana public housing facility.

Murray said he was having a barbecue with his son. He claims he approached a firefighter in the driver's seat of a fire truck, to explain what happened. Murray said the firefighter jumped out of the truck and attacked him. "He jumped on top of me and started hitting me about my head and face, approximately 10 times," Murray said.

The Honolulu Police Department released police reports on the incident Wednesday, although names are blacked out. The report said Murray yelled obscenities at firefighters while they investigated. As firefighters were preparing to leave, the report said Murray 'Gabbed hold of the (firefighter's) uniform shirt" as the firefighter was getting out of the truck.

According to the report, the firefighter felt that Murray "was about to assault him. Before (Murray) could assault him, (the firefighter) struck (Murray's) face to get him off of him."

The report does not indicate how many times the firefighter struck Murray.

Murray suffered cuts on his face and ears as well as knuckle-sized bruises and welts on his forehead. Area residents told KITV4, they saw the firefighter repeatedly punch Murray.

Hawaii Firefighter Association president Bobby Lee said confrontations like this are pretty common, especially when dealing with situations that involve drugs, alcohol or domestic violence. "We're on the scene to protect the people and to help the public. But at the same time, we're not there to get hurt," Lee said.

Lee could not specifically discuss the case, but said there is no written policy about how far a firefighter can go while protecting himself. "For the most part you know, our guys aren't there to fight back or throw punches. Our main mode of defense is restraining individuals. It gets much more difficult when we get caught one on one," Lee said.

That's what may have happened Sunday night. Lee said the firefighter was alone when Murray confronted him. His colleagues were on other parts of the truck as they were about to leave.

Another police report said Murray was uncooperative, his behavior confrontational and belligerent while he was at the Queen's Medical Center seeking treatment for his injuries.

The officer wrote that he detected "...a strong odor of alcohol present while speaking with (Murray)..."

The officer "discovered that he had been drinking an alcoholic beverage and that he spoke with a slight slur... his eyes were red and watery."

On Monday, Murray vowed he was not drinking.

Murray was unavailable for comment Wednesday night.

Lee said the fire department's investigation should begin on Friday, when the firefighter and his unit return to work after their regular days off.

Lee said there is currently no law that protects a firefighter from legal action in cases like this.

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