Firefighters Apprehend Alleged Perp in Manhattan

Firefighters Brian Madison and James Welch from Ladder 7 saved the day for a man in Manhattan on Jan. 3, when they apprehended a man who allegedly broke into his car and stole his GPS Navigation System.

“As firefighters we like to help people, so it felt good,” said Firefighter Madison.

While returning from a run, firefighters from Ladder 7 were driving southbound on Park Avenue, when they saw a man running northbound. The man flagged them down and said he had been robbed and pointed out the alleged perpetrator.

Firefighters made a U-turn in the rig and followed the man - who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, baseball hat and dark jeans - until he disappeared in the northbound 23rd Street subway station.

Firefighters Madison and Welch ran down the steps in pursuit and saw him crossing the tracks toward the southbound side.

They then exited the station, crossed the street and entered the southbound side. There they found the man and held him down until police arrived about five minutes later.

Firefighters said this is not the first time they have caught a would-be robber. Firefighter Welch said he once stopped a robber from breaking into a house while off-duty; and Firefighter Madison, who served as an NYPD police officer for nearly 12 years, apprehended a man who allegedly tried to break into his Fire Captain’s vehicle outside the firehouse on Dec. 28, 2009.

“This seems to be a regular thing for us,” Firefighter Welch said with a laugh. “We were happy to help.”