Amidst an unexpected interaction with law enforcement, a seasoned Miami Fire Rescue captain found himself on the wrong side of the law. Maximo Vasquez, who has dedicated 15 years to firefighting, now faces a slew of charges following an incident at his home. According to jail records cited by NBC Miami, the 42-year-old was arrested yesterday on charges that include assaulting a police officer or firefighter, disorderly conduct, and misuse of 911.
The circumstance arose when Vasquez reportedly became "visibly irate and shouting" while a deputy was attempting to explain the process of filing a missing person report for his wife, as detailed in an arrest report obtained by Local 10. The situation escalated quickly enough to see Vasquez allegedly throw a case card at the deputy, an act that contributed to his subsequent arrest. Prior to this, Vasquez had dialed 911 twice, supposedly “only to demean deputies that arrived on scene and demand that deputies find his wife.”
Amid these legal woes, Miami Fire Rescue has taken a step back to observe. "The City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue is aware of an incident involving a 15-year veteran firefighter who was arrested early Monday morning by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office," read a statement from fire officials, as reported by NBC Miami. They further articulated a stance of detachment until lines of communication opened, saying, "At this time, we have not been in contact with the individual. Once contact is established, the department will initiate a thorough internal investigation in accordance with our policies and procedures."
In the courtroom, Vasquez’s defense lawyer argued against the charge of resisting an officer, suggesting that there wasn't actually a resistance because the defendant called 911, the attorney stated, as reported by NBC Miami. The prosecutor appeared to agree, leading a judge to find no probable cause for the resisting an officer charge. Nevertheless, Vasquez was given the choice to be released with pre-trial services or a bond set at $1,150 for the remaining counts.
Vasquez, whose record reflects his membership in an Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, remains a figure of interest as his department anticipates launching an in-depth examination into his conduct. Maximo Vasquez is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings.
