Top LAFD union official accuses former president of battery

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Set us as preferred Los Angeles firefighters Jason Powell and Freddy Escobar have a history, and on Friday that apparently led to an altercation at their union’s headquarters.Powell, the treasurer of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, said former union president Escobar showed up to a union board meeting while on-duty.After the meeting was over, words were exchanged, and Powell said Escobar punched him in the groin.

Powell said he reported the incident to police and that he planned to seek medical care.Escobar denied that he punched Powell, saying there was “no fight, nothing other than voices.” “Not my style,” he said in a text message when asked about the punch.Los Angeles police officers received a radio call about 11 a.m.about a battery at the 1500 block of Beverly Boulevard, said Officer Alondra Garcia.

She didn’t have further details.LAFD spokesperson Stephanie Bishop said the matter was referred to the agency’s Professional Standards Division for an internal investigation.“LAFD takes these matters seriously and will follow the established investigative and review processes,” she said.

Union president Doug Coates declined to comment, citing the active investigation.Coates said he didn’t see what happened.Powell and Escobar have been at odds before.

Escobar and two other union leaders were suspended from their positions last year after Powell raised concerns about board members’ financial record keeping and use of funds.An investigation by the International Assn.

of Fire Fighters, the local union’s parent organization, found that $800,000 in credit card purchases were not properly documented.After an internal trial, the IAFF retained some charges against Escobar.They included failure to provide full and accurate accounting, conduct detrimental to the IAFF and unbecoming conduct.

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