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“He told me he got into a confrontation with some tree trimmers and there was words exchanged between them and police were called,” German Twp. Fire and EMS Chief Tim Holman said.
This newspaper called a phone number listed for Artis, but he did not come to the phone and a woman who answered said “no comment.”
Police began their investigation on Monday afternoon when they were dispatched to a home on the 1800 block Norwood Avenue in Springfield.
“Dispatch advised that the caller/victim was with a tree service company,” an affidavit says. “They were trimming a tree when a white male began yelling racial slurs and pulled out a gun.”
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The officers met with the men who said they were sub-contractors working for Ohio Edison trimming trees around power lines, the affidavit says. While trimming trees on Norwood Avenue, the men said a man came outside to ask what they were doing.
“The victims advised that Mr. Artis got upset with how they were trimming the tree and advised them they needed to trim the tree a different way,” the affidavit says.
The victims said Artis began using racial slurs, according to the affidavit.
Officers then went to the home and found Artis leaving the home. He denied using a racial slur to police.
“He stated he was unsure if the victims were actually with a tree company or not,” the affidavit says. “Mr. Artis stated he was upset with the way that the victims were trimming his tree. Mr. Artis later stated that he knew they were a tree company because they were working around the corner last week.”
Artis also denied brandishing a shotgun, saying that he was only moving it from the top of a refrigerator to his bedroom, the report says.
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Officers entered the home and found the shotgun, the affidavit says, and the gun was loaded.
“He told me he didn’t say the things that they are accusing him of,” Holman said.
Shortly after the alleged slurs, one of the tree trimmers said he cussed at Artis, the affidavit says.
“The victims stated shortly after, Mr. Artis went into the home and retrieved a black shotgun,” the report says. “Mr. Artis stood in the doorway holding the shotgun while looking at the victims. The victims advised they feared for their lives and left the area.”
Holman said he is disappointed in the firefighter’s alleged behavior.
“We are here to serve the public and we just don’t condone this. I mean we are here to help and gain the trust of the community and things like this erode that trust,” Holman said.
This isn’t the first time a German Twp. Fire and EMS employee got into trouble for alleged racist behavior.
Bradly Baugh, a former Springfield firefighter, lost his job after he was accused of sharing a Facebook post with a racial slur in it. He was also a lieutenant at German Twp.,
Baugh was placed on paid administrative leave by German Twp., Holman said, also due to the Facebook post but once charges were brought against him it became unpaid.
The township trustee will hold a hearing this morning to determine if Baugh’s employment will continue with the township, Holman said.
Artis is also suspended pending further investigation, Holman said. The township will conduct its own investigation and it has already began. If Artis is found guilty of the charges he faces six to 12 months in prison per charge and more than six thousand dollars in fines.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.