3 Michigan City firefighters facing battery charges

Three Michigan City, Indiana, firefighters are facing battery charges after an incident at a gathering in November, according to Indiana State Police.

Scott Kaletha and Brad Kreighbaum were both charged with battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level five felony, Indiana State Police said. Kaletha was also charged with with strangulation, a level six felony.

Additionally, Austin Swistek was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery and obscene performance, state police said.

The charges stem from an incident at a gathering the three firefighters attended while off-duty Nov. 5 in at a home in the northwest Indiana town, state police said.

Though Indiana State Police and the Michigan City Police Department declined to provide further details about the incident in question, the office of Mayor Duane Parry said “the State Police Investigation and written affidavits revealed property damage, physical assault, and serious bodily injury to a firefighter took place during the incident.”

“Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry is troubled by the unbecoming acts of these officers and assures the citizens of Michigan City that he does not take this unacceptable behavior and violation of your trust and confidence lightly,” the mayor’s office said. “Mayor Parry has requested that appropriate discipline be administered swiftly and thoroughly to every person responsible for this wrongful event.”

The Michigan City Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.