WASHINGTON — An on-duty D.C. firefighter has been charged with felony assault after reportedly attacking a co-worker over "personal issues" at Engine 32 and Truck 16 in Southeast D.C. on Dec. 10.
Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department received a call for a physical altercation between the two firefighters along Irving Street in Southeast D.C. around 6:30 p.m. The Command Staff for DC Fire and EMS also arrived at the scene to investigate the incident.
One of the firefighters, Tony Vaccaro, told officers Dominique Jones had choked him, according to a police report. There were visible injuries on his neck, and his eyes were bloodshot, the police report stated.
DC Fire and EMS firefighters took Vaccaro to a local hospital for evaluation, where he was treated and released hours later.
"The department has absolutely zero tolerance for physical violence of any nature under any circumstances," Public Information Officer for DC Fire and EMS, Vito Maggiolo, said in a statement.
Jones' supervisor asked him to return to the scene. He then told his supervisor that the altercation escalated and led to choking over personal issues, the report said.
Jones was arrested and charged with felony assault. He was taken to the seventh district for processing.
"This was a rare event and an extremely concerning incident for our entire Department and does not represent our core values or our membership generally," Maggiolo added.
DC Fire and EMS is conducting an administrative investigation into the fight.
Jones is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal proceedings, according to Maggiolo. Vaccaro was placed on administrative duty.
