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Melanie Crescenzi, in a letter to police Chief Charles Bordeleau, alleged police force “inaction” after a call in which she said her husband’s arm was almost “snapped broken.”

Ottawa firefighters from Pump 24, paramedics and police were all dispatched on July 30 around 2:30 a.m. after a caller reported what appeared to be an unconscious man lying on the ground near a McDonald’s restaurant around Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive.

Police Const. Paolo Crescenzi approached the man, an altercation ensued and, when the constable “attempted to place the individual under arrest, (the man) somehow successfully managed to flip (the officer) onto the ground and place him in an arm bar,” his wife wrote in her letter to the chief.

Melanie Crescenzi alleged four firefighters who also responded to the call refused to help her husband, whom she alleges was being restrained. The actions of those firefighters are being looked at in an ongoing police investigation, but none has been charged with any crime.

Ayotte also told firefighters that none risked discipline from the fire department for their actions.

“None of our members have been disciplined, and based on my review, discipline was never considered,” Ayotte wrote to firefighters Wednesday.

“Regarding the incident, I have been personally involved in this matter since the morning of Sunday July 30thand have had discussions with senior police staff over the past few weeks,” Ayotte wrote. “I am unable to discuss the specifics of the case because charges have been laid against an individual for assaulting police and we do not want to interfere with our judicial system and the individual’s right to a fair trial.”