Man charged after punching Chicago firefighter during South Side incident

Lamar Andrew Brown, 32, stands accused of assaulting a Chicago firefighter during a chaotic encounter on the South Side.

Prosecutors charged Brown on Tuesday with aggravated battery and aggravated assault of a peace officer or firefighter.

Court documents describe the incident as occurring around 11 a.m. Sunday near 73rd Street and Maryland Avenue in the Grand Crossing neighborhood.

Police and fire personnel arrived to check on a person lying in the grass. They found Brown shirtless and barefoot, pulling at the grass. He told responders to remove their shoes because they were standing on his property.

After standing up, Brown walked into the middle of Maryland Avenue and began speaking incoherently. A firefighter suggested he see a doctor, but Brown focused on the officer and approached him.

The firefighter extended a hand to keep distance, and Brown punched him in the chest. The firefighter then retrieved a Halligan bar from his engine. An officer activated her Taser as Brown continued to act aggressively.

Brown approached again in a crouched stance. The officer fired the Taser twice but missed. The firefighter swung the Halligan bar, striking Brown in the torso and then in the head. The second strike knocked Brown unconscious.

Brown was taken to St. Bernard Hospital for treatment and a psychiatric evaluation. He had to be sedated upon arrival due to erratic behavior. Tests found PCP and cocaine in his system. CT scans of his head and neck were negative.

The firefighter said the punch knocked the wind out of him but declined medical attention. Brown also had an outstanding warrant before the incident. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.