CLEARWATER, Fla. – A Clearwater Firefighter, Christopher G. Maine, 41, has been arrested in Tampa on aggravated assault.
According to police, early Tuesday morning, Maine and a female victim were drinking and engaged in a verbal argument that escalated. Maine grabbed the victim by her throat, forcing her to the ground and restricting her airway. When the victim was able to break away from him, Maine then pointed a handgun at the victim and threatened to shoot her. The victim attempted to call 911; however, Maine grabbed the phone from her.
The first Tampa Police Officer to arrive on scene could hear Maine yelling at the victim. When the officer knocked on the door, the victim exited telling the officer that Maine was armed with a gun. Maine continued to point his gun in the direction of the officer and the victim as they were in the doorway.
The officer pulled the victim from the doorway, taking her a safe distance before again approaching the suspect. The officer gave verbal commands for Maine to surrender, to which he ultimately complied and was taken into custody.
Christopher Maine has been employed with Clearwater Fire & Rescue since 2005.
He has been a lieutenant since 2016. As of this morning, he has been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the city of Clearwater. He has no previous formal discipline with the city.
“We learned this morning of the allegations against one of our employees, and we are troubled by his arrest,” said Fire Chief Scott Ehlers. “This is not the type of conduct we expect from those who serve our city. We are working to gain more information from the Tampa Police Department about the case
Maine was taken to Hillsborough County Jail, charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2 counts), Domestic Battery by Strangulation, False Imprisonment, and Tampering with a Witness.