New Jersey Firefighter Charged With Assault Says He Was Defending His Son

An East Orange firefighter, accused with his three sons of using baseball bats to beat up a man with whom they had a dispute, said yesterday he and his family did what they did after the individual choked and tried to rob his 17-year-old son and one of the son's friends.

The firefighter, Darren Carter, said he 43, was off-duty Monday when he spotted the man, went to question him about his actions, and had to defend himself when the individual picked up a broom handle, swung it at him, backed into a liquor store and began throwing bottles and cans at him.

Carter, released on bail while awaiting trial on aggravated assault and weapons offenses, went to police headquarters yesterday to file aggravated assault and attempted robbery charges against the individual.

Carter, of Springdale Avenue, admitted he didn't follow the directions of police, who on Monday, after learning about the 12:20 a.m. incident involving his son and the son's friend, advised him to come into police headquarters and for him and his son to file an official police incident report.

Click Here To Read Entire Story