An off-duty FDNY firefighter was arrested Tuesday morning in Greenwood, Brooklyn, on charges that include strangulation, assault and unauthorized use of a vehicle following a dispute with another person. William Crimmins, 32, was taken into custody at 9 a.m., and police have not released details about what led to the confrontation.
The arrest, first reported by News12 Brooklyn, says Crimmins was involved in a dispute with another individual, according to a News 12 source. The station's report does not specify the relationship between Crimmins and the other person involved, and police have not disclosed further specifics about the incident.
What the Charges Actually Mean
Strangulation in the Second Degree, the most serious charge Crimmins faces, is a Class D violent felony under New York Penal Law § 121.12 that carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison upon conviction, according to FindLaw. The felony applies when a person obstructs another individual's breathing or blood circulation and causes physical injury or loss of consciousness, a threshold that distinguishes it from the lesser misdemeanor charge of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, per the Alliance for HOPE International. Prosecutors weigh evidence of physical injury to determine which charge applies under Article 121 of the penal code.
Crimmins also faces Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $1,000 under New York Penal Law § 165.05. That charge applies when someone operates, rides in, or exercises control over a vehicle knowing they lack the owner's consent, regardless of whether permanent theft was intended. It remains unclear which vehicle was involved or its connection to the alleged dispute, as police have not released those details.
Where the Arrest Happened
Greenwood falls within the jurisdiction of the NYPD's 72nd Precinct, headquartered at 830 Fourth Avenue, which also patrols Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace and South Slope and serves more than 140,000 residents across South Brooklyn, according to Media Azi. NYPD CompStat data compiled for the area shows violent crime rates in the 72nd Precinct running roughly 18% below the broader Brooklyn borough average, per 875 Fourth Avenue. Fire protection in Greenwood and the adjacent South Slope area is primarily handled by FDNY Engine Company 240 and Engine Company 228/Ladder Company 114, though it has not been confirmed which firehouse Crimmins is assigned to.
What Happens to Crimmins' Job Now
Under Section 15-113 of the New York City Administrative Code, the Fire Commissioner holds broad authority to discipline, suspend or dismiss any FDNY member convicted of a legal offense, rules violation or conduct unbecoming an officer. Standard departmental protocol places firefighters arrested on criminal charges on immediate unpaid administrative suspension for up to 28 to 30 days while the department's Bureau of Investigations and Trials reviews police filings and court records, according to Firehouse Magazine.
That process has precedent within the department. In May, an active-duty firefighter assigned to Engine Company 277 was arrested and charged with felony assault after allegedly striking an NYPD officer, resulting in an immediate 28-day suspension, Firehouse Magazine reported. In February 2024, an FDNY lieutenant assigned to Engine Company 234 in Brooklyn was arrested on a strangulation charge following an altercation with an EMT, leading to a four-week unpaid suspension that cost him thousands in withheld base pay, according to FireRescue1.
It is not yet known whether an order of protection has been issued in Crimmins' case, and the FDNY has not announced an official employment status determination following his arrest. Hoodline has previously covered off-duty FDNY arrests that carried similar administrative uncertainty for the members involved.
