FIREFIGHTER ACCUSED OF BATTERY

A CHARLOTTE COUNTY FIREFIGHTER IS ON AN UNEXPECTED VACATION AFTER AN ALTERCATION AT A PORT CHARLOTTE BUTCHER SHOP ON WEDNESDAY.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY AN 80 YEAR OLD MAN WAS COMING OUT OF THE BUSINESS ON US 41 WHEN HE WAS CONFRONTED BY 36 YEAR OLD JOHN HENRY, AN OFF DUTY FIREFIGHTER.  HENRY ACCUSED THE MAN OF SCRATCHING HIS CAR AND REPORTEDLY GOT CHEST TO CHEST WITH THE VICTIM.  THAT’S WHEN HER DAUGHTER REPORTEDLY TRIED TO STEP IN AND WAS ALLEGEDLY STRUCK BY HENRY.  HENRY THEN LEFT THE SCENE BUT LEFT HIS WIFE BEHIND.  WHEN HE RETURNED, HE CLAIMED HE WAS THE ONE ASSAULTED; BUT CHARLOTTE COUNTY FIRE & EMS CHIEF DENNIS DIDIO STILL TOOK QUICK ACTION AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTER, PUTTING HIM ON PAID AMINISTRATIVE LEAVE PENDING THE OUTCOME OF AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION.  HENRY WAS CHARGED WITH BATTERY.  HE POSTED BOND AND WAS RELEASED.