FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A man driving into oncoming traffic on Broad Street in Lower Manhattan blocked a fire truck trying to respond to a call, then hit a firefighter who confronted him, prosecutors said.
Jeffrey Malek, 31, was attempting to avoid traffic on Broad Street just after noon on April 7 when he swerved into the oncoming traffic lane — where he blocked a firetruck that was trying to drive down the road in response to a call, according to a criminal complaint from the Manhattan DA's office.
An FDNY officer then approached Malek and asked to see his license and registration. He refused, responding "F--k you. You're not the cops," prosecutors said.
When the fireman told Malek to pull over and that he'd call the police and let NYPD to talk to him, Malek tried to drive off in the fireman's direction, hitting his right knee, the complaint said.
The FDNY officer was treated by EMS on the scene and suffered "substantial pain," prosecutors said.
Malek's lawyer, Michael Biniakewitz, called the criminal complaint a "complete fiction."
"The only thing that was bruised was the fireman's ego," Biniakewitz told DNAinfo New York.
Malek was not speeding off into the fireman's direction, he was trying to pull over, Biniakewitz said.
Malek was charged with assault, reckless endangerment and obstructing governmental administration.
Malek was released without bail and is due back in court on June 3.
