Columbus firefighter Terminated After OVI Plea, Questions Raised About Hiring Process
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus firefighter has been terminated from the Division of Fire after pleading guilty to an operating a vehicle impaired (OVI) charge, and new questions are emerging about whether he should have been hired in the first place, given his past criminal record.
Columbus police arrested Saxon Angell-Perez around 2:30 a.m. may 3 after officers saw a black pickup truck hit traffic cones in the Short North. body-worn camera video shows officers locating the truck and attempting a traffic stop. The truck continued until it pulled into a parking lot, where the occupants ran.
In the video,an officer asks,”Why’d you run from officers when you parked your truck?” and Angell-Perez responds,”Adrenaline.” He later tells officers, “I am Columbus firefighter and paramedic.”
Footage shows him refusing field sobriety tests and speaking aggressively to officers. At one point, an officer says, “Shut up dude. shut your … mouth. Trim your beard up, look unprofessional.” Officers spent nearly three hours trying to get angell-Perez to comply before taking him to a hospital for a blood draw.
Angell-Perez pleaded guilty to the criminal OVI charge in Franklin County Municipal Court. The Columbus Division of Fire charged him in July with dishonesty, attendance violations, neglect of duty and failure of good behaviour. He was terminated in October.
After repeated requests for an interview, the city provided a statement from Public Safety Director Kate Pishotti, saying, “Unluckily, Mr. Angell-Perez violated multiple rules and has not upheld the standards of the Division of Fire.”
Following a viewer email raising concerns about Angell-Perez’s criminal history,10TV reviewed his background documents. He was hired in june 2022. On his request, he acknowledged taking prescription Adderall in 2016 and admitted pleading guilty to felony charges, though that portion of the form was redacted.
Court records from 2020 show…
Angell-Perez is appealing his termination as he seeks to return to the Division of Fire.
In the video, an officer asks, “Why’d you run from officers when you parked your truck?” and angell-Perez responds, “Adrenaline.” He later tells officers, “I am Columbus firefighter and paramedic.”
Footage shows him refusing field sobriety tests and speaking aggressively to officers. at one point, an officer says, “Shut up dude. Shut your … mouth.Trim your beard up, look professional.” Officers spent nearly three hours trying to get Angell-Perez to comply before taking him to a hospital for a blood draw.
Angell-Perez pleaded guilty to the criminal OVI charge in Franklin County Municipal Court. The Columbus Division of Fire charged him in July with dishonesty, attendance violations, neglect of duty and failure of good behavior. he was terminated in October.
After repeated requests for an interview, the city provided a statement from Public Safety director Kate Pishotti, saying, “Unfortunately, Mr.Angell-Perez violated multiple rules and has not upheld the standards of the Division of Fire.”
Following a viewer email raising concerns about Angell-Perez’s criminal history, 10TV reviewed his background documents. He was hired in June 2022. On his application, he acknowledged taking prescription Adderall in 2016 and admitted pleading guilty to felony charges, though that portion of the form was redacted.
Court records from 2020 show Angell-perez pleaded guilty to felony permitting drug abuse,felony cocaine possession and a misdemeanor hazing charge. Prosecutors in Athens County said he provided cocaine to fraternity pledges and participated in hazing involving Ohio University student Collin Wiant and others.