CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KFMB) - The California Highway Patrol and Chula Vista Fire Department have issued a joint statement after an officer handcuffed a firefighter at an accident scene.
The statement called what happened an "unfortunate incident" and said both agencies "have the utmost respect for each other."
So, what did happen?
Fire officials said three engines responded to a single rollover crash along Highway 805. All three trucks parked in the fast lane.
When California Highway Patrol asked the trucks to move, two of the trucks did.
Chula Vista firefighter Jacob Gregoire refused.
"Those two other officers had to leave the scene and that only left one engine, so there wasn't anyone else to help the ambulance crew," Chula Vista Fire Dept. Chief Dave Hanneman said.
In the video, an unnamed California Highway Patrol slapped handcuffs on Gregoire. Gregoire was then escorted to a patrol car where he was detained for 30 minutes.
After Tuesday's incident, California Highway Patrol and Chula Vista Fire Department leaders met at Chula Vista City Hall.
"We talked about what could be put in place so that this doesn't happen again," Hanneman said.
