Firefighter Arrested for Firing at Tow Truck in Maryland

A Bowie firefighter with two local departments has been charged with shooting at a tow truck that was towing away his vehicle, police said. Berlin Hiligh faces one count of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly coming out of his townhouse Tuesday night and firing his gun at the truck on Elm Crest Lane. Hiligh, an award-winning firefighter, has been put on administrative leave from both of the departments with which he serves -- District of Columbia's Engine Station No. 4, and another department in Prince George's County, Md. -- NBC 4's Miguel Almaguer reported Friday night. Joe Heidenberg and David Kidwell, who have been towing cars together for years, said they found a sport-utility vehicle with expired tags in front of the townhouse. In seconds, they hooked the vehicle. But they did not make it all of the way down the street before they say four shots were fired at them without warning. "I heard bang, bang, like real loud, so my first instinct is to look back," Kidwell said. "I look back and see a gentleman standing about 15, 25 yards away from us, and he's shooting." No one was hurt, but police said several rounds were recklessly fired. One shot hit a home. Neighbors said a small child was asleep inside. Hiligh was arrested and later released. A person answering the door at his home declined to comment Friday night. But neighbors did talk with NBC 4. "I can understand how he would think that someone was maybe stealing his car, but I don't really understand the reaction from a person like him," said neighbor Devlin McMillan. Concern over car thefts may have begun a month ago from an incident only 10 miles away, NBC 4's Miguel Almaguer reported. In nearby Largo, a car owner was shot and killed after he chased down thieves who used a tow truck to steal his vehicle. But Heidenberg and Kidwell said that wasn't the case this time. "I think someone could have been killed, yeah. And I also think he was probably shooting to kill," Heidenberg said. Almaguer reported that authorities were considering whether to file additional charges in the case.