TWO men were arrested for assaulting an off-duty firefighter early morning on Christmas.
Rickson Michael and Julius Paul are escorted by Corrections officers at Guma Hustisia.
The Office of the Attorney General charged Rickson Michael, 23, with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace; and Julius Muludy Paul, 24, with assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
On Monday morning, the two appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho who imposed a $20,000 cash bail on Michael, and a $10,000 cash bail on Paul.
At the hearing, Michael was represented by Assistant Public Defender Tyler Scott. The court said it will appoint a defense attorney for Paul.
Assistant Attorney General Steven Kessel appeared for the government.
After the bail hearing, both defendants were remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections and were ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 4 at 10 a.m., and for arraignment on Jan. 9 at 10 a.m.
According to the complaints filed in court, the off-duty firefighter was hanging out with his girlfriend in a vehicle in the Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel parking lot early Christmas morning when the girlfriend said she heard a man and a woman yelling near a pavilion by the beach.
She said she went near the pavilion and saw two men shoving each other. Her boyfriend, who was following her with a flashlight, told her to come back. He identified himself as a firefighter and asked the two men what was going on.
The firefighter said he then heard someone say “Ha!” and saw Michael running toward him.
The firefighter said he threw a punch at Michael who fell to the ground. The firefighter then held Michael to the ground.
Michael continued to struggle with the firefighter who identified himself as a firefighter.
Michael punched him on the ribs once, the firefighter said. When Paul arrived, he started punching the firefighter.
The firefighter said he managed to run away from the two assailants and called 911 in the hotel lobby.
He said Michael threw a rock at him in the lobby before the responding police officers arrived.
