Yet ANOTHER Green Beans criminal faces charges:
Jets fan 'Fireman Ed' Anzalone charged with assault in wake of incident involving Giants fan
Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 8:46 PM Updated: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 8:57 PM
Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger
Jets superfan “Fireman Ed” Anzalone was charged with simple assault today after allegedly shoving Tinton Falls resident Christopher Black during the Giants-Jets preseason game on Aug. 16 at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Black’s lawyer, Alexander Iler, said an East Rutherford judge agreed to charge Anzalone after a probable cause hearing.
Anzalone, a 51-year-old retired New York City firefighter now residing in East Rutherford, serves as an unofficial figurehead in the Jets fan section. He did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone seeking comment.
While the order was approved, local and county law enforcement officials could not confirm whether Anzalone had been criminally charged as of tonight. Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said simple assault is a disorderly persons offense, so his office would not be notified of any charges.
Attempts to reach the East Rutherford Police Department and municipal clerk’s office were unsuccessful tonight.
The incident, now a staple on YouTube, occurred with a little more than three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Black, 29, walked up to the front of the section where Anzalone was standing and stepped in front of him. Anzalone appears to make contact with Black, a Giants fan wearing a blue No. 81 Amani Toomer jersey, several times, the last where he appears to use his trademark green and white fireman’s helmet.
“My client walked to the front of his section and stood next to Fireman Ed to start a ‘Giants’ chant while fireman Ed was doing his ‘Jets’ chant,” Iler said. “Fireman Ed essentially turned and first shoved him down. And when Chris got back up, he started to chant ‘Giants Giants Giants’ again, (Ed) grabbed a helmet of some sort and shoved him down to the ground.”
Iler said Black was arrested by the New Jersey State Police shortly after returning to his seat and
“banned from the Meadowlands.” He was charged with improper behavior. Anzalone was allowed to stay.
Anzalone, who was getting in position to bellow a “J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets” chant following a Jets touchdown, climbed back up on the railing to lead the crowd in the cheer.
Iler said he has not yet been informed of the official court date.
