A man is under arrest after claiming to have a gun inside a Newport firehouse and then blasting two firefighters with bear spray, according to city and fire officials.
“Our firefighters are safe and well,” Newport Fire Chief Frank Peluso said. “They were treated at the station and did not require additional medical attention.”
It all started around 1 a.m. Wednesday when a car crashed into the parking lot of the fire station on Monmouth Street.
A woman who was hurt from the crash ran into the fire station seeking help, the fire chief said.
Moments later, a man came into the station carrying an object he claimed was a gun but turned out to be bear spray.
He sprayed two firefighters with it before being taken into custody, according to the city, which
identified him as Jacob Palmer.
The woman was taken to a local hospital, the chief said.
Palmer is charged with assault involving emergency medical services of fire rescue personnel, burglary, unlawful imprisonment, wanton endangerment and public intoxication involving a controlled substance excluding alcohol.
He is scheduled to appear before Campbell County District Court Judge Erin Sizemore at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, court records show.
This report was provided by Enquirer media partner Fox 19.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man arrested after blasting Newport firefighters with bear spray
