NEW YORK (AP) -- A firefighter pleaded innocent Friday to charges he assaulted a fellow firefighter with a chair, critically injuring him, as authorities investigated whether an attempt was made to cover up the incident.
Michael Silvestri, 41, was charged with assault, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon.
Robert Walsh, 40, was in critical but stable condition Friday with multiple facial fractures, including a broken nose and jaw.
The two men had been horsing around Wednesday evening when things turned serious inside their engine company on Staten Island, with Silvestri allegedly picking up a steel chair and hitting Walsh across the face with it.
Silvestri's attorney, Ronald Kleigerman, said he had yet to discuss the specifics of the case with his client.
Kleigerman would not comment on allegations that fellow firefighters tried to cover up the assault instead of calling police. According to a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity, police were notified about eight hours after the incident.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said the delay resulted because department officials were getting conflicting stories from the other firefighters, including a report that Walsh had fallen down stairs.
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