Fire chief asks that third party investigate assault call

The city’s fire chief is calling for a third-party investigation after a police officer’s wife alleged several firefighters stood by, refusing to help, while her husband fought with a suspect, the Citizen has learned.

Acting fire Chief Kim Ayotte also cautioned his firefighters against fanning flames of hostility between fire and police in a briefing report sent to all firefighters Wednesday.

“I would ask that you not pass judgment until all of the facts have been made public,” Ayotte wrote in the report the Citizen obtained. “I am asking for an independent third party investigation, but I suspect that the facts will not be made public until after the resolution of the criminal matter (against a man charged with assaulting police).”

Ayotte also said “the article is not accurate regarding several of the reported facts,” alluding to the Citizen story detailing the allegations made by the officer’s wife.

Melanie Crescenzi, in a letter to police Chief Charles Bordeleau, alleged police force “inaction” after a call in which she said her husband’s arm was almost “snapped broken.”

Ottawa firefighters from Pump 24, paramedics and police were all dispatched on July 30 around 2:30 a.m. after a caller reported what appeared to be an unconscious man lying on the ground near a McDonald’s restaurant around Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive.

Police Const. Paolo Crescenzi approached the man, an altercation ensued and, when the constable “attempted to place the individual under arrest, (the man) somehow successfully managed to flip (the officer) onto the ground and place him in an arm bar,” his wife wrote in her letter to the chief.

Melanie Crescenzi alleged four firefighters who also responded to the call refused to help her husband, whom she alleges was being restrained. The actions of those firefighters are being looked at in an ongoing police investigation, but none has been charged with any crime.

Ayotte also told firefighters that none risked discipline from the fire department for their actions.

“None of our members have been disciplined, and based on my review, discipline was never considered,” Ayotte wrote to firefighters Wednesday.

“Regarding the incident, I have been personally involved in this matter since the morning of Sunday July 30th and have had discussions with senior police staff over the past few weeks,” Ayotte wrote. “I am unable to discuss the specifics of the case because charges have been laid against an individual for assaulting police and we do not want to interfere with our judicial system and the individual’s right to a fair trial.”

Bradford Spence, who, according to court documents, is 19 years old, was at the courthouse for a brief appearance Thursday. Spence was charged after the incident with a single count of assaulting police.

A justice of the peace heard that he’s applied for legal aid and wishes to retain lawyer Jonathan Boss. Spence will next appear Sept. 28.

Melanie Crescenzi’s letter to the police chief also alleged that after the incident her husband discovered that the man he had attempted to arrest was “deeply under the influence of drugs and … had been training and practicing MMA fighting for over 20 years.”

Spence’s documented age is at odds with that description. Spence, who is young looking and of less than average height, came to court in a brand new suit. He politely declined to speak to a reporter but scoffed at the idea that he’s a “veteran” MMA fighter.

Several elements of the narratives told by police and firefighters are inconsistent, from where the initial call took place to what levels of force were used by Crescenzi.

Ayotte, however, told firefighters that the “crew acted professionally and responded as expected and in accordance with our primary mission of saving lives.”

Ayotte said he is “confident that all OFS firefighters do what is necessary to help anyone in need including our first responder partners.”

The fire chief said his “first concern,” given the media attention, “is the reputation of our firefighters and the integrity of our service.

“I am also concerned about the damage that this might cause to the good working relationship we have with our police partners,” Ayotte wrote.

Ayotte asked his fire staff to “please consider that we respond to thousands of calls with our police partners and these types of situations are rare and practically non-existent.”

He also urged all employees to “maintain your customary high degree of professionalism in your daily interactions with our police partners” and asked that no fire personnel discuss the incident on social media “in such a manner as to adversely affect the integrity of our service.”

The allegations have been fodder for police and firefighters, several of whom have defended the actions of the firefighters on the call.

None of our members have been disciplined, and based on my review, discipline was never considered.