WASHINGTON — Two D.C. firefighters have been arrested in a three-day span recently, including one who made headlines in recent years.
Richard Kirkpatrick, 20 of Washington, was stopped by D.C. police Tuesday evening in Southeast. Police say they saw him speed up in an apparent attempt to keep a passenger from leaving his car, almost hit two pedestrians and run a stop sign.
When they finally pulled Kirkpatrick over, they tried to handcuff him. Eventually, they say, head-butted and kicked an officer and tried to run away. He’s been charged with reckless driving and misdemeanor assault of a police officer.
The second firefighter, Charles Ryan, 45 of Chesapeake Beach, was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer in Anne Arundel County on Saturday night.
County police say Ryan tried to fight the staff at a pub in Crofton after a manager confronted him about an unpaid bill.
According to court records, Ryan also kicked an officer but said that an officer also punched him.
Ryan almost burned to death during a house fire in 2011.
A D.C. Fire spokesman says both firefighters are on paid leave.
The Associated Press and WTOP’s Liz Anderson contributed to this report.
