By Jesse Garza
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAKEE, Wis. — A man accused of assaulting a Milwaukee firefighter at the scene of a medical emergency was charged Thursday with battery to a firefighter.
According to a criminal complaint, Travis Montrell Babbs, 26, grabbed the male firefighter by the arm and collar, shoved him against a fire truck and threatened to kill him before the firefighter was struck in the face by an unknown assailant Saturday at N. 60th St. and W. Capitol Drive.
The charge against Babbs is a felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the complaint.
Babbs was among a group of mourners at a vigil for a motorcyclist killed in a crash at the intersection, according to the complaint.
Quintell Mark Noblin, 26, of Milwaukee died at a hospital from injuries suffered in the crash, reported shortly before 2:30 a.m., Friday, according to the Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office.
Noblin was riding a 1996 Suzuki motorcycle southbound on N. 60th St. when he went through a red light at Capitol Drive, striking an eastbound 2004 Cadillac Escalade, according to Milwaukee police.
According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee firefighters were called to the vigil when one of the mourners began to suffer seizure-like symptoms.
During their response attendees of the vigil became unruly to the point where the firefighters felt unsafe and Milwaukee police, who were already at the scene, called for more squads.
As the firefighters attempted to walk back to their truck several people at the vigil began chasing them before Babbs grabbed one, shoved him against the truck and threatened to kill him, according to the complaint.
The firefighter is certain it was Babbs who shoved him against the truck but is not sure who hit him, according to the complaint.
Babbs was in custody in the Milwaukee County Jail Thursday, with his bail set at $2,500, according to jail records.
Milwaukee Fire Department policy requires firefighters to pull back from any potentially dangerous situation until the scene is secured by police, according to Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Lipski.
The incident prompted Milwaukee fire and police department union officials and mayoral candidate Ald. Joe Davis to call for public support for firefighters and police officers.
(c)2015 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel