West Wilmerding fire chief charged with simple assault

An Allegheny County fire chief has been charged after allegedly assaulting a fellow volunteer firefighter. According to his criminal complaint, West Wilmerding Fire Chief James Robert Pusey, 33, was approached by a lieutenant with the North Versailles Fire Department for advice on where to park a fire truck. . Pusey told him to park it behind a tanker truck, but when the firefighter told him he wouldn't fit, Pusey became furious and threatened to kill the other man. The victim was able to show police where Pusey allegedly grabbed him with both hands around the vehicle. throat to choke it. The firefighter said Pusey also hit his head on the fire truck while choking him. Pusey was charged with making terroristic threats as well as simple assault.