Man Guilty of Assaulting Ohio Firefighters

Aug. 19--A Toledo man who charged at two local firefighters while clad only in his underwear pleaded no contest Tuesday to assault and burglary, both fourth-degree felonies.

Bradford Lewis, 36, of 2903 Nash Rd., faces up to three years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 29 by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Bates. A second count of assault is to be dismissed at the time of sentencing as part of a plea agreement.

Andrew Lastra, an assistant county prosecutor, told the court Toledo Firefighters Adam Ziehr and Antwoine Mister were backing an ambulance into Fire Station 23, 2754 W. Laskey Rd., about 5 a.m. June 18 when out of the blue Lewis appeared, entered a side door of the ambulance, and lunged toward the firefighters in the cab area of the vehicle.

Mr. Lastra said the two firefighters jumped out of the vehicle, and Lewis, fueled by a combination of marijuana and cocaine, began to chase Firefighter Mister. Firefighter Ziehr ran inside the station to awaken his fellow firefighters and enlist their help.

"The defendant ultimately ran into Fire Station 23 and was confronted by a group of firefighters who were brandishing various objects, brooms and broom handles, in order to defend themselves," Mr. Lastra said. "Ultimately the defendant was forced outside where he was subdued by both firefighters and police."

Judge Bates said the case was a new one for him.

"This is somewhat bizarre," he said. "I've been a judge for 25 years, and I've never had anyone attack a firefighter before."

Defense attorney Jerome Phillips said afterward that Lewis suffered a "drug-induced psychotic break" when he charged at the firefighters.

Outside the courtroom, Lewis, who is free on bond, shook hands with and apologized to the two firefighters, saying he had never engaged in that type of behavior before.

Neither of the firefighters was seriously injured, but the incident took them by surprise, they said.

"We didn't teach you how to deal with that at the fire academy, did we?" Chief Luis Santiago, who also attended the hearing, said to them afterward.

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