By Chris Fuchs
A New York City Fire Department employee was arrested last week, accused of using his position to obtain the address and telephone number of a Flushing woman whose tires he allegedly slashed days after the two were involved in an accident on a Queens expressway, the Queens district attorney said.
The accident occurred Feb. 19 on the Grand Central Parkway near Union Turnpike, said DA Richard Brown. The woman, a 26-year-old Flushing resident, was driving on the parkway in her 1999 Ford Escort when a white Reliant nearly veered into hers, the district attorney said.
Brown said the driver of the Reliant, Timothy Keller, a resident of Levittown, L.I., then used his position as an emergency medical technician for the Fire Department to obtain the woman’s address and telephone number. Three days later, he said, Keller allegedly traveled to the woman’s house and slashed the tires of her car. Then he telephoned the woman, the district attorney said, telling her he enjoyed slashing her tires and she should go downstairs to take a look.
“Criminal behavior of this nature is unacceptable by anyone, but it is especially reprehensible from a public employee,” Brown said in a statement.
Keller, 37, a 12-1/2-year veteran of the Fire Department, was charged with criminal mischief, official misconduct, unauthorized use of a computer and aggravated harassment. If convicted, he faces a prison term of up to four years, the district attorney said.
Reach reporter Chris Fuchs by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
