MEDIA ADVISORY:

FIREFIGHTER APPREHENDS PURSE SNATCHER

While members of Ladder Company 11 were in the process of removing a person from a stuck occupied elevator at Avenue D and East 12th street, the chauffeur of Ladder 11, FF Stephen Schwarz, was alerted by the screams of a woman that she had been robbed. He then witnessed a man fleeing with a purse. FF Schwarz chased the perp through PSA 4 (public housing development) and radioed to Lt. Brian Sullivan of Ladder 11 in order to advise of the situation. Lt. Sullivan notified two Police Officers (who were also assigned to the elevator job) of the ensuing chase. FF. Schwarz ordered the robber to lie on the ground where he held him until members of the NYPD arrived.

FF Schwarz is a 9.63 veteran of the Fire Department. He received one unit citation in 1995 and is a resident of Valley Stream, NY. He is 43 years old.

Availability will take place at 3:30 PM at quarters of Ladder Company 11, 222 East 2nd Street.

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon / Mike Loughran (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny