West Wilmerding’s fire chief faces a court date on assault charges, after police say he choked another firefighter during an emergency call in May.

James R. Pusey, 33, of North Versailles was charged Tuesday with simple assault and misdemeanor terroristic threats. According to a criminal complaint, West Wilmerding was one of several companies that responded to a May 10 fire on the 200 block of Orient Avenue in Wilmerding.

North Versailles VFD Lt. Brendan Plesniak told police he approached Pusey at the scene about where to park a fire engine, according to court documents. Pusey told Plesniak to pull behind a tanker truck, and when Plesniak explained the truck would not fit, Pusey jumped out of his truck and began cursing and threatening Plesniak.

“Pusey then ran up and grabbed Plesniak by the neck and smacked his head against the fire engine while choking him,” East McKeesport Police Ptlm. Eric Hess wrote in a criminal complaint. “Pusey continued to choke Plesniak and said, ‘I’ll kill you, you (expletive), I’ll kill you if you talk to me like that again.’”

Pitcairn police separated the men and noted red marks on both sides of Plesniak’s neck, according to court records.

Plesniak was treated later for neck and facial muscle and tendon strain, and showed police audio and video from a body camera worn during the incident.

Pusey was released on non-monetary bail. A June 13 hearing will take place in Judge Roxanne Sakoian Eichler’s North Versailles court. A simple assault charge carries a penalty of up to 2 years in prison; misdemeanor assault carries a penalty of up to 5 years.

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