Swanton fire chief faces dismissal after incident

1/29/2011

SWANTON — Fire Chief James Guy faces being fired for his alleged conduct in a Dec. 24 incident at an ex-girlfriend's house.

An undated letter from Swanton Mayor James Bushong to the chief states the mayor's intent to terminate Mr. Guy from all village employment effective Wednesday.

The letter accuses Mr. Guy of fighting, threatening, or attempting bodily injury to another; insubordination, and use of abusive or profane language to employees and officers of Swanton, all in violation of the Village employee handbook. Along with various charges of dereliction as provided for under state law, the handbook violations are based on the police report from the Dec. 24 incident, the mayor wrote.

Mr. Guy is accused of forcing his way into the ex-girlfriend's home and threatening and pushing her and her son after having seen them earlier in the evening at the Loma Linda restaurant on Airport Highway in Monclova Township. He is charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of felony aggravated burglary.

The police report additionally describes the fire chief using foul language toward village officers after they arrested him later on the morning of Dec. 24.

The disciplinary hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday in village council chambers.