Massachusetts firefighter arrested for beating homeless man

Prosecutors say a surveillance camera caught firefighter Joseph Ward, 37, of Dorchester throw a bottle at the man outside of Anna’s Taqueria on Harvard Street in Brookline late Sunday night.

A Brookline firefighter was arrested after being accused of beating up a homeless man Sunday night.

When apprehended, Ward told cops that he had asked the man “to please hurry up with his order” because he “was taking a long time”, and was then challenged to take their quarrel outside, according to the police report. The two exchanged words once the food was served, and the man followed the victim outside, where he started a fight, according to the police report. The firefighter punched the victim five to seven times and kicked, a witness told police.

The victim was taken to a hospital to treat a cut on his eyebrow. The witness also said the firefighter then punched the victim, threw him on the ground and threw food at him. He has been charged with assault and battery with a risky weapon: a bottle. “I was afraid he was going to kill him”.

‘The town is aware of Firefighter Ward’s arrest and has placed him on administrative leave immediately pending further investigation, ‘ said Town Administrator Mel Kleckner.