Police Say Man Scuffled With Rescuers After Collapsing
CONCORD, N.H. -- A Concord man being called a hero after helping an elderly couple escape from their burning home was arrested shortly after the rescue because of a scuffle with emergency workers.
Steven Rivers said that he was sitting on his Walker Street porch at about 2:30 a.m. Monday when he saw flames shooting from the house across the street. He rushed into the building, guiding an elderly couple on the second floor to safety.
"I actually went in there twice," Rivers said. "There was an elderly man and an elderly woman who lived up there, and I came out there and helped them get out and was glad that they're all right."
Rivers refused medical attention when he came out of the burning building. He then walked across the street and passed out, possibly, he said, from a mix of smoke inhalation, the adrenaline rush and some existing medical conditions.
Authorities said that when rescue workers came to Rivers' aid, things got ugly.
"I didn't know where I was and was disoriented, and one firefighter said I hit him and then there were six or seven people on me, and I ended up getting arrested and going to jail over it," Rivers said.
Rivers was charged with simple assault and resisting detention. Police said they believe his conduct warranted the criminal complaints.
Rivers said he had no idea what was happening and wasn't treated fairly, but he said that given the same situation, he would run into the building again.
Fire officials didn't want to talk about the altercation, specifically saying only that it was "unfortunate," but they said Rivers acted bravely.
"That's pretty incredible and nothing short of heroic," Chief Tim McGinley said. "It's one thing for firefighters who are dressed and trained to go into a burning building, but for an average citizen dressed in street clothes to make not one but two entries, that's nothing short of heroic, I think."
Rivers was released on bail and is scheduled to be in court on Nov. 20.
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