Posted on 08/03/23
| News Source: FOX45
Mayor Brandon Scott’s nominee to lead the Baltimore City Fire Department has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, including being charged with illegal possession of over 50 pipe bombs, according to FOX45.
As first reported by the Baltimore Sun on Thursday, Interim Fire Chief James Wallace had the Harford County Sheriff’s Office called to his Bel Air apartment in July 1992 for “a report of an explosion.”
According to reports, law enforcement discovered “a homemade explosive device” discharged outside Wallace’s home.
Police charged James Wallace and another individual with possession of pipe bombs and possession of explosives without a license. Prior to his nomination, charges linked to this incident have been expunged from public record.
Wallace received additional citations in 1992 and 1993 for assault, use of a deadly weapon, battery and destruction of property. These charges were never prosecuted, the Sun reports.
Baltimore City records showed James Wallace was employed as a paramedic during the time of these incidents. Following the pipe bomb charges, Wallace was temporarily suspended from the city.
Mayor Scott tapped Wallace to lead the embattled fire department after its top firefighter position has been vacant for over seven months.
Prior Fire Chief Niles Ford abruptly resigned in December on the same day a scathing report was released outlining dysfunction in the department following the death of three city firefighters in the Stricker Street blaze.
Before being nominated to lead the city’s fire department, Wallace served as the Acting Director for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.
Interim Fire Chief Wallace still awaits City Council approval before serving in the role officially.
Wallace, a current resident of Pennsylvania, will also need to relocate to Baltimore to comply with local laws requiring senior officials to live within city limits.
Fox45 News reached out to Interim Chief Wallace and Mayor Brandon Scott’s office for comment. Requests were not immediately returned.
This is a developing story and will be updated.