CHICAGO () — Chicago police said a man has been charged after allegedly attacking a Chicago firefighter in an encounter recorded on cellphone video.
The confrontation occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the 7300 block of South Maryland Avenue, according to police.
Authorities identified the man seen in the widely circulated video as 32-year-old Lamar Brown of Chicago.
Brown faces two felony aggravated battery charges and eight warrant issuances, police said.
The footage, recorded by a bystander and shared across social media, shows a shirtless, barefoot man arguing with firefighters.
Brown is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
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In the video, a firefighter steps out of a fire vehicle holding a Halligan tool, a heavy metal bar commonly used during emergency calls. As the argument intensifies, the man moves toward the firefighter and appears to prepare to throw a punch. The firefighter then blocks the advance.
Bill Kushner, ABC7 Chicago’s police affairs consultant, said the firefighter’s response was legally justified.
“In this case, the firefighter’s use of force is equivalent to a private citizen’s use of force,” Kushner said.
After the first clash, the man continued pursuing the firefighter. ABC7 said it would not air the portion of the video after the Halligan tool struck the man in the head. He lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
The footage also shows a Chicago police officer nearby with a Taser aimed at the man. Police said the officer deployed the device, but it had no effect.
