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Main Page Fire captain says he was assaulted by police officers
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: bbelichick

Sounds like this guy was a flaming a**hole.
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By Erica Noonan, Globe Staff, 3/14/2004

A Needham fire captain accused of assaulting a Needham police offcer during the arrest of the captain's son has filed a criminal complaint of his own, contending that he was manhandled and spit upon by police offcers during the incident.

The complaint against Needham police offcers Shawn Ryan and Loren Stead, filed in Dedham District Court last week, alleges that the officers grabbed Captain William Byrnes, threw him to the ground, and kneed him in the back of the head.

An attorney for Needham's police union called the complaint `nonsense.'

`This is an attempt by Captain Byrnes to create some leverage on his own behalf and wage a public relations campaign," said Brian Rogal, who represents Ryan and Stead.

`He is embarrassed by his own conduct and is trying to claim that the police officers did something wrong."

The Feb. 10 scuffe on Ellis Street started after Ryan pulled over 20-year-old Timothy Byrnes and a friend on suspicion of marijuana possession. The younger Byrnes initially refused to be handcuffed and used his cellphone to call his father, who arrived at the scene in a Fire Department pickup truck.

The elder Byrnes and Ryan argued about the fate of the Byrnes family Honda sedan, which contained a small amount of marijuana and was still being searched, according to police reports.

Police said that when Ryan tried to block Byrnes from entering the car, the fire captain shoved the officer out of the way. Both men fell to the pavement, fighting, and Stead eventually helped Ryan subdue and handcuff Byrnes. But Byrnes says that he only approached the car to see if his son was inside, and that Ryan and Stead escalated the situation.

Ryan grabbed Byrnes while Stead elbowed him in the jaw, the captain said. The officers then allegedly forced Byrnes to the ground and wrenched his arm backward.

"I yelled that my arm couldn't go back any further, that I'm a 58-year-old man and my arm wouldn't bend any more," Byrnes wrote in his own account of the fight. "They cuffed both hands behind my back as tight as the cuffs would go, while forcing my head into the asphalt.

"I kept yelling that I have never been humiliated or treated like this in my life, it's a disgrace. . . . Ofgcer Ryan told me to act like a [expletive] man."

`Captain Byrnes had no business being on the scene, and no business interfering with the police offcers. No one has the right to come down and get in the way of police business," Rogal said.

Needham's Board of Selectmen has asked Town Administrator Kate Fitzpatrick to conduct a formal investigation into the incident. She said a civil service hearing on the matter would probably be scheduled within the next two weeks.

Posted by: dcs2244

What a beaut! Brian Rogal will sort-out Captain Crunch...he doesn't miss a trick!

Posted by: ntvs

`Captain Byrnes had no business being on the scene, and no business interfering with the police officers. No one has the right to come down and get in the way of police business," Rogal said.

enough said.

Posted by: mpd61

Quick! Call daddee on the cell-phone, you've been a bad boy again, ooops
looks like daddee is a bad boy too!

Don't you just love when you make a stop and by the time you approach, they're on the cell to mommy or their lawyer!

Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

I would like to see the police report on this before I make an opinion but as a fellow police officer I definitely take the police's version. Just the fact that the Capt arrived on the scene is enough to say the Capt was asking for trouble and it looks like he got it.
Not to get off the topic but we had a student under arrest a few years ago for malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct. The student called his father on his cell phone who was a trial court officer in roxbury court and the father came down and it got ugly. The father acted like the Needham fire capt interfering with the arrest ect.. Finally we told him if you don't get out of our faces we will lock you up too. Some people think they live above the law especially public employees.

Posted by: mpc111

What the story didn't say was that Capt. Byrne (and I use that term loosely) was on duty at the firehouse when his son called. If you're gonna play the game, you better know the rules.

Posted by: NACop

I'm sure the Captain had some personal time on the books!

Posted by: csauce30

Quote:

The younger Byrnes initially refused to be handcuffed and used his cellphone to call his father, who arrived at the scene in a Fire Department pickup truck.

I am curious as to why the arrestee was allowed to decide if he would like to be handcuffed or not...

Based on the way the article reads, I think using reasonable force and effecting the arrest may have prevented the son from having the opportunity to cry to daddy to begin with. Hook him up and let him call from the booking room.

Posted by: USMCTrooper

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntvs

`Captain Byrnes had no business being on the scene, and no business interfering with the police officers. No one has the right to come down and get in the way of police business," Rogal said.

enough said.

DITTO. I dont tell you how to put out grease fires sparky, dont tell me how to arrest

Posted by: capefiveo

Would it shock anyone to know that Needham Fire Chief is supporting the police officer's actions? Well he is.

"You heard here, my dear readers. Off the record, on the QT, and always
hush-hush." Danny Devito 'LA Confidential'

Posted by: Killjoy

What disgrace to firefighters!!!! A Captain no less!!!

Posted by: Guinness2429

I had a virutally indentical situation happend at zero-dark-thirty several years ago. 17 yo son borrows(steals) dad's red firebird and all daddy's beer out of the fridge and goes joyriding down Route 95 with three friends. I see the 'bird at Mach 3 and try to stop it. Needless to say, the chase is on. Off the highway, down counrty roads, onto cow paths then into Mr. Stonewall. Bail-out and when K-9 arrrives, sonny decides to give himself up. We rush over to cuff sonny-boy, but wait! Here comes daddy running full speed at me and screaming to leave his poor son alone. Just in the nick of time, 280lbs of trooper stiff arms him to the ground. Click-click. The scene was ugly and got even uglier at the barracks, court the next morning and at trial several months later. Fortunately, the dad of the year never filed any complaints, but it was an UGLY affair nonetheless.

Beware of criminals fathers.............

Guinness2429

Posted by: Wolfman

Quote:

"I yelled that my arm couldn't go back any further, that I'm a 58-year-old man and my arm wouldn't bend any more," Byrnes wrote in his own account of the fight.

Well, then, maybe this guy sholdn't be out working a job where you have to haul charged lines up flights of stairs to save people. If you're an out of shape cop, (generally) the bad guy gets away or you get your ass kicked. If you're an out of shape firefighter, citizens burn to death or your coworker can't get dragged out of harm's way.

Look forward to Byrne's retirement party, hopefully coming soon to a VFW near you.

Posted by: VAP1773

What are the chances that Capt. Byrnes couldn't pass the police exam 20 years ago and is still pissed about setteling for a fire job?

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAP1773

What are the chances that Capt. Byrnes couldn't pass the police exam 20 years ago and is still pissed about setteling for a fire job?

Ouuuuuch! AND Snap!

Posted by: luap112

MT1 said hit the nail right on the head. We don't pass the "Fire Line Do not Cross" tape and start consulting with the CHief/OIC and telling him how to fight the fire. Shame on the Captain!! I know he may have

had good intentions trying see if his son was OK as any father would. However being a FF and being the nature of the beast were we do work so closely at times together he should have known that the officers were trying to protect themselves and any possible evidence they may have had. I also agree with what the the NPD union has to say. I think the Captin realized he messed up big time and know is trying to make up for it by saying the NPD officers on scene mistreated him. Its probablly going to be a tough go at for a while considering that both departments share the same building. Oh well guess we'll have to see how this whole thing plays out. Just currious to see if their will be any ivestigation as to why the Captain left his post during the shift leaving a fire truck possibly out of service and not able to respond to any calls?

Posted by: ArsonLT

As a Fire Lieutenant the actions of Captain Bryne disgust me to say the least. This Captain has disgraced the fire service, his department, and shows that he may lack the skills to lead. I could go on but I think members on this board have just about covered all of the facts.

The bottom line is his action cannot be justified and this Fire Captain was wrong, but is this comment listed below necessary?

Quote:

What are the chances that Capt. Byrnes couldn't pass the police exam 20 years ago and is still pissed about setteling for a fire job?

Posted by: VAP1773

Maybe not necessary, but funny :P . After all this MassCOPS, not MassFIRE.

Posted by: kdk240

What isn't nessary? Arson Lt.'s reply? I work with him, he's also a cop at our P.D.. and a hell of a good one too. Knows his shit and very very knowledgable, and I'm proud tpo stand side by side with him on any day. So I'd think before I speak with out knowing who your talking about.

Posted by: tomahawk

kdk, I believe VAP was referring to the quoted portion of ArsonLT's reply, where he asked about the necessity of the comment about the Captain not getting a police job.

Not to pick on you kdk, but take a deep breath and re-read what you are replying to before getting all fired up... your blood pressure thanks you!

-Mike

Posted by: robodope

This is seriously the problem with this younger generation today ( god i sound old) Their parents don't allow them to accept any responsability for their actions or their own..No wonder so many of these kids are turning into A Holes..If a Police Officer showed up scene to intefere with an arrest it would be front page news....This captian should be fired

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by robodope

This is seriously the problem with this younger generation today ( god i sound old) Their parents don't allow them to accept any responsability for their actions or their own..No wonder so many of these kids are turning into A Holes..If a Police Officer showed up scene to intefere with an arrest it would be front page news....This captian should be fired

I agree 105%. And Fuocockster (Kevin) you need to chill buddy! YIKES!!!!

Posted by: Killjoy

One of the Troopers I work with told me that his mother told him when he was growing up, (she was a local cop) "If you get caught doing something illegal, don't bother calling home". Sound advice to children of law enforcment types....

Posted by: Dr.Magoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy275

One of the Troopers I work with told me that his mother told him when he was growing up, (she was a local cop) "If you get caught doing something illegal, don't bother calling home". Sound advice to children of law enforcment types....

Reminds me of my retired father (local cop). I was in the station with him one day as a kid and someone walks by and said "what did he do". My father replies "nothing....and if he did, he wouldn't be here.....he would be home and I would handle him". I took that message to heart. Wouldn't it be nice if all parents were the same.

Posted by: MatchStick

By no means am I going to bat for the Fire Captain, but don't assume that the son cried for help. If the Capt was on duty in Needham, and the stop occured in Needham, chances are the Capt. may have heard radio traffic referring to his son. In trying to help his son out, he may have shown up uninvited and screwed his son and himself alike.

I have dealt with one kid in my town who always drives shitboxes registered to his Daddy's company. Between the facts that the vehicles are 90-7/90-20 nightmares and he drives like a jackass, we run into him often. He also likes to party hard with his underaged gaggle of clowns and is often the subject of 94C invests. One night I had him stopped for a few pages worth of 90-7. All of a sudden I see headlights pulling in right behind my cruiser. The headlights were attached to an Astrovan not another CVPI. His fat father comes running up to the driver's side of my cruiser and immediately starts blabbing about it being his son. I immediately exited my cruiser and instructed him to return to his vehicle or he would be placed into mine. Then he starts saying that I hit him with the cruiser door when I opened it. I told him that the fact that he ran full tilt into my door as he interfered with my stop would be the least of his worries if he did not get in his car and leave. I should have locked him up, but instead I gigged him for every defective equipment I could find. I figure that way, I'll get OT for the MV appeals and still hook him up when he gets suspended for not paying all of his fines. More than one way to skin a cat.........

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatchStick

By no means am I going to bat for the Fire Captain, but don't assume that the son cried for help. If the Capt was on duty in Needham, and the stop occured in Needham, chances are the Capt. may have heard radio traffic referring to his son. In trying to help his son out, he may have shown up uninvited and screwed his son and himself alike.

"The Feb. 10 scuffe on Ellis Street started after Ryan pulled over 20-year-old Timothy Byrnes and a friend on suspicion of marijuana possession. The younger Byrnes initially refused to be handcuffed and used his cellphone to call his father, who arrived at the scene in a Fire Department pickup truck."

Posted by: csauce30

Like I said...when did this become an option when youre being placed under arrest?

Quote:

The younger Byrnes initially refused to be handcuffed and used his cellphone to call his father, who arrived at the scene in a Fire Department pickup truck."

Posted by: MatchStick

Posted: 28 Mar 2004 01:05 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MatchStick wrote:
By no means am I going to bat for the Fire Captain, but don't assume that the son cried for help. If the Capt was on duty in Needham, and the stop occured in Needham, chances are the Capt. may have heard radio traffic referring to his son. In trying to help his son out, he may have shown up uninvited and screwed his son and himself alike.

jsg2020 wrote:

"The Feb. 10 scuffe on Ellis Street started after Ryan pulled over 20-year-old Timothy Byrnes and a friend on suspicion of marijuana possession. The younger Byrnes initially refused to be handcuffed and used his cellphone to call his father, who arrived at the scene in a Fire Department pickup truck."

Matchstick reassessed and then wrote:

jsg2020:

See what happens when I try and get caught up on a few weks worth of forums after working a double....I miss key details and electronically insert my own foot into my mouth.

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatchStick

Posted: 28 Mar 2004 01:05 Post subject:

jsg2020:

See what happens when I try and get caught up on a few weks worth of forums after working a double....I miss key details and electronically insert my own foot into my mouth.

No biggie, but I just thought you were cutting the Guy and his kid way too much slack. Littl boy called for daddy, and daddy came running. Old enough to buy weed but not too old to call daddy for help when you get caught.

Posted by: MatchStick

jsg2020 wrote:

"No biggie, but I just thought you were cutting the Guy and his kid way too much slack. Littl boy called for daddy, and daddy came running. Old enough to buy weed but not too old to call daddy for help when you get caught."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know it is no biggie, but the oversight on my part lead to me being to kind to both the Capt and the dopey son. After finally getting some sleep and re-reading the forum, I couldn't agree with your sentiments more.

Posted by: dcs2244

Police persons:

Since when is a lemming alowed to use a "telephone" at the point of arrest? If there is a new law, please advise me so that I don't violate anyones "rights".

Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy275

Hey my father must have hung around with that troopers mother lol. My father was no LEO. The only thing different was my father who was 5ft9in of pure fighting fury from the old sod would say in his Irish accent "If yee get caught doing something illegal young fella, better make sure the cops get yah before I do mee laddy, because when I get through with you, you'll be yelling for the cops" YIKES!!!

Posted by: 2-Delta

Hah!

Posted by: reno911_2004

This is an old-ass topic, I know, but I just came across it. What that article also dosn't mention is that the wife of the Capt. and his daughter were also almost clinked when they came down to the PD and flipped out. That would have rounded out the day perfectly.

Posted by: mpd61

Ahhh.........

Family values, it does my heart good to see them exhibited. Thanks for the update!

Posted by: RPD931

What was the outcome of this case?

Posted by: stm4710

Thanks capt for another black eye.

Posted Sun 29 Aug, 2004 22:42:

Ohhh after re-reading this again I also say shame on the PD too...........
If he had time to reach for a cellphone, he had time to reach for a gun.

But again, please dont judge firefighters by this clowns actions.

Posted by: luap112

Anybody here anything on the case yet?

Posted by: dcs2244

Nah, luap, probably a 'bag-job'...

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