Sleepy Hollow firefighter charged

[Guest vacguy]

TARRYTOWN - A Sleepy Hollow firefighter accused of fighting with a colleague at a Tarrytown blaze was charged last night with harassment.

Detective Sgt. Gene Buonnano said Patrick Hayes, 25, would be issued an appearance ticket on the charge of second-degree harassment, a violation. It is punishable by a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail.

Hayes was accused of repeatedly shoving fellow Sleepy Hollow firefighter Miguel Valle, causing him to fall to the ground and injure his knee at a fire on Nov. 24, Tarrytown police said. Valle, a 46-year-old mechanic for the Tarrytowns schools who previously had knee-replacement surgery, was taken by ambulance to Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow, where he was released after treatment.

Valle filed a formal criminal complaint against Hayes. Tarrytown police then interviewed other witnesses and consulted with the Westchester District Attorney's Office before taking action.

Hayes, whose brother is the deputy fire chief and whose father is a Sleepy Hollow police lieutenant, has already been suspended as a firefighter. His department's board of fire wardens is conducting an internal investigation and will hold a hearing to decide on any disciplinary action.