Firefighter allegedly punches woman, assaults 2 men

A Chinese businesswoman shows the injury on her forehead after an off-duty firefighter allegedly punched her when she tried to stop him from fighting with her 57-year-old brother-in-law outside the New Top Store in Dandan on Sunday night. (Ferdie de la Torre)

An off-duty firefighter allegedly punched a Chinese businesswoman on the forehead and kicked her brother-in-law in the back, while the firefighter’s male companion also fought with a responding police officer outside the New Top Store in Dandan last Sunday night.

The firefighter and his companion were later handcuffed.

Saipan Tribune confirmed with a source at the Department of Public Safety that the firefighter was detained. It was not clear if the other man who fought with the officer is the firefighter’s brother or a relative.

DPS has yet to release information about the incident to the media. Saipan Tribune opted not to identify the firefighter pending further information from DPS.

The businesswoman was knocked down and sustained a big lump on the left side of her forehead. Medics treated her at the scene.

She said the incident happened shortly before 11pm when the firefighter, who had bought cigarettes and betel nuts at New Top Store, began bothering her 15-year-old niece, who served as the cashier.

At that time, the businesswoman, her sister, and her 57-year-old brother-in-law were eating in the kitchen at the back of the store. The businesswoman said her brother-in-law went inside the store and asked the firefighter why he’s bothering the girl.

The firefighter allegedly got mad and challenged the brother-in-law to a fight outside the store. As the firefighter and her brother-in-law were arguing, the businesswoman and her cousin tried to stop the fight.

The businesswoman said the firefighter kicked her brother-in-law in the back, threw her 30-year-old cousin on the ground, and punched her on the forehead.

“I fell on the ground. I felt dizzy. My blood pressure went up,” she said.

The businesswoman said her cousin also suffered scratches on the legs and arms.

The businesswoman said responding police officers handcuffed the firefighter and placed him inside a police car.

She said a man who they believe to be the firefighter’s relative came and was uncontrollable and refused to listen to the officers. He allegedly wrestled with one officer on the ground.

She said the firefighter later managed to get out of the police car and tried to get inside the store, so they all ran inside the establishment.

The businesswoman questioned the police’s action for handcuffing her sister and her brother-in-law. She said police later released her sister and her brother-in-law. (Ferdie de la Torre)