GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay Metro Fire Department Lieutenant was treated for injuries sustained from an unprovoked attack that he suffered Wednesday morning.
Green Bay Metro Fire says the Lieutenant encountered an individual walking around in the intersection of Broadway and Dousman amidst traffic.
“He was just on his way to an appointment with the department and happened to see an individual that was in the middle of the road,” Shauna Walesh of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department said. “It would not be out of the realm of anybody, including the public to stop what they were doing there and assist. I mean this is just coming up and saying hi to somebody and trying to get somebody to safety.”
Out of concern for the individual’s safety, the Lieutenant approached the person and attempted to convince him to move to the sidewalk and out of the intersection.
The individual was not cooperative with the Lieutenant and appeared to be becoming agitated.
The Lieutenant called for assistance from the Green Bay Police Department and continued to try to convince the male out of the intersection.
The individual suddenly lunged at the Lieutenant and struck him several times.
The Lieutenant and the individual both went to the ground where the altercation continued.
“We don’t know if this was due to a medical reason or a mental issue going on.”
Several motorists stopped their vehicles and assisted the Lieutenant in subduing the individual.
Green Bay Police officers arrived quickly and took the individual into custody.
The Lieutenant was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, treated and released.
His name is not being released at this time.
“We are there to help people, but sometimes things don’t go as they are planned.”
During the incident, the diligence and quick actions of a Brown County Public Safety Communications Dispatcher who was monitoring the Lieutenants radio channel for his safety led to a rapid response to assist the Lieutenant.
“Situations like these are hard to train for,” Walesh says. “I’m sure we are going to be looking at our protocol and ways to prevent things like this, but it seems it is just one of those times when things just go bad.”
Green Bay Metro Fire Department would also like to thank the Green Bay Police Department and the motorists for their assistance.
