Boston firefighter pleads not guilty to assault

By David Abel, Globe Staff

A Boston firefighter pleaded not guilty to assault charges today stemming from a fight at a Hyde Park social club that left a man in critical condition.

The 62-year-old victim apparently suffered a heart attack after the fight, which occurred inside the Polish American Club on the 1300 block of River Street. Paul J. Crowley, a contractor from Whitman, was found lying in the parking lot and not breathing, according to a police report. He was rushed to Brigham and Women's Hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.

The firefighter, Paul Nemes, 58, was apprehended after the altercation at 7:40 p.m. and charged with assault and battery and aggravated assault and battery. His lawyer, Neal Connolly, argued today in West Roxbury Municipal Court that the heart attack occurred well after the fight and was unrelated.

Crowley did not specify how much time passed between the fight and the heart attack. He did say that the altercation occurred inside the social club, and that Crowley was not stricken until he was outside in the parking lot. Connolly said that Nemes even came to Crowley's aid, trying to revive him with CPR when he found him not breathing.

Prosecutor Amy Galatis said that an argument between the two men escalated to chest bumping and then fisticuffs. Galatis also did not say how much time passed between the altercation and the heart attack.

Nemes, who lives in Norwood and has no previous criminal record, appeared in court today wearing a blue, pinstriped suit. He was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail and ordered to return to court Oct. 31.

• Comment
• Permalink
• Email