Top LAFD Union Official Accuses Former President of Battery Following Head-Quarters Altercation
A high-ranking official within the Los Angeles firefighters union has accused the organization’s former president of battery following a physical altercation at the union’s headquarters on Friday. Jason Powell, treasurer of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, stated that former union president Freddy Escobar punched him in the groin after an exchange of words following a board meeting. Powell reported the incident to law enforcement and indicated he planned to seek medical attention.
Escobar flatly denied the accusation, asserting that no physical confrontation occurred. In a text message responding to inquiries about the alleged punch, Escobar said there was “no fight, nothing other than voices,” adding that such behavior was “not my style.”
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a radio call regarding a battery at approximately 11 a.m. in the 1500 block of Beverly Boulevard, according to Officer Alondra Garcia, who noted that further details were not immediately available.
The fallout from the incident has also triggered an internal review. LAFD spokesperson Stephanie Bishop confirmed that the matter had been referred to the department’s Professional Standards Division for an internal investigation. Bishop stated that the agency takes such matters seriously and will follow established investigative and review processes. Current union president Doug Coates declined to comment on the incident, citing the active investigation, and stated that he did not witness what transpired.
Legal counsel for Escobar swiftly pushed back against the claims. In a letter addressed to Powell on Friday, attorney Delia Ibarra demanded that Powell retract his complaint and cease repeating the allegation. Ibarra wrote that Escobar would not tolerate fabricated claims intended to ruin his reputation, threaten his employment, or serve as a pretext for expelling him from the union he has represented for years.
The confrontation follows a history of tension between the two union figures. Last year, Escobar and two other union leaders faced suspension after Powell raised concerns regarding the board’s financial record-keeping and expenditure of funds. An inquiry by the International Association of Fire Fighters, the local union’s parent organization, subsequently revealed that $800,000 in credit card transactions lacked proper documentation.
Following an internal trial, the parent organization sustained several charges against Escobar, including conduct detrimental to the union, unbecoming conduct, and failure to provide a full and accurate accounting, though more serious allegations of negligence, incompetence, and failure of duty were dismissed.
Friday’s union board meeting had been convened to address a proposal to allocate an additional $3 million toward the campaign for Measure FD, a half-cent sales tax proposal appearing on the November 3 ballot. According to Powell, Escobar arrived at the meeting while on-duty, accompanied by his crew on a fire engine, and proceeded to label certain board members incompetent.
After the board voted to approve the Measure FD spending, Powell said a verbal exchange took place. According to Powell, Escobar instructed him to cease working overtime—an apparent reference to union officials taking on extra overtime shifts for additional pay alongside their union stipends. Powell stated he responded by telling Escobar to shave his mustache and leave the premises, and subsequently asked if he had returned to write the union a financial check. Powell alleged that Escobar then turned around and struck him in the groin, causing him to double over in front of three or four witnesses. Escobar maintained his denial of the physical strike, offering no further elaboration on the verbal exchange.
