Firefighters Investigated For Drunken Brawl With Walnut Creek Police

WALNUT CREEK (CBS SF) -- Two Bay Area firefighters are on administrative leave after a weekend charity event in Walnut Creek turned ugly when a drunken, early morning brawl broke out between the firefighters and police.

The incident ended with two off-duty Contra Costa firefighters and their female companions in handcuffs.

The brawl broke out at 5 a.m. Sunday morning, hours after the 2nd Annual Firefighters Ball, which was held at the Walnut Creek Marriott Hotel.

When Walnut Creek police were called to the hotel, they didn't know it involved two firefighters who had attended the charity event the night before.

Police said the firefighters and two other women were intoxicated and belligerent after refusing to leave a room at the hotel.

Police said one of the firefighters – 31-year-old Andrew Desmond – refused to cooperate and even took a fighting stance. Police said Desmond resisted arrest and assaulted both officers.

The other firefighter – 32-year-old Lontavious Johnson – was also arrested along with the two female companions.

Johnson and one of the women, 33-year-old Shirlee Johnson, were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, trespassing and obstructing an officer, according to police.

The other woman, 35-year-old Leah Mendaros, was arrested for allegedly assaulting hotel security guards, being drunk in public and trespassing, police said.

Robert Marshall, a fire marshal with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, said officials were aware of the incident and taking action.

"Any sort of a violation of the public trust, we take seriously," said Marshall. "Any time you have allegations like this, they're serious allegations. We take those things seriously. We have a behavior expectation."

When asked if there was a code of conduct firefighters were expected to follow, Marshall replied, "Yeah, we're in a position of public trust and we take that public trust very seriously, Which is why we chose to take the actions that we've taken to place them on administrative leave and initiate the investigation."

Desmond and Johnson have been released from jail and will remain on leave until the investigation is concluded.