Man charged after female guard, Dayton fire crews attacked on false alarm call

Springfield man faces multiple felony counts.
Three people were injured after Dayton firefighters responded to a fire alarm around 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at the Premier Health building in the 100 block of North Main Street. One man was arrested after reportedly attacking a security guard and responding fire crews. PHOTO COURTESY LARRY PRICE

Credit: Larry Price

Credit: Larry Price

Three people were injured after Dayton firefighters responded to a fire alarm around 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at the Premier Health building in the 100 block of North Main Street. One man was arrested after reportedly attacking a security guard and responding fire crews. PHOTO COURTESY LARRY PRICE

Dayton Fire Department personnel injured during an assault in downtown Dayton that also seriously injured a security guard have been released from the hospital.

DFD crews found the seriously injured female guard, age 66, after responding around 5 p.m. Saturday to a general fire alarm at the Premier Health Center building at 110 N. Main St. in downtown Dayton.

The first-arriving Dayton fire crew was on scene within five minutes and went inside the building to investigate the source of the alarm, according to a released statement from Dayton fire Capt. Brad French.

Shortly after entering the building, the crew found the injured guard, as well as a 25-year-old Springfield man, who then attacked them.

A “Signal 99″ request for emergency assistance was issued by the fire department, which brought police and additional fire crews to the scene.

Dayton police Lt. Steven Bauer said medics took three people — the security guard and two fire personnel — to Miami Valley Hospital.

Bauer confirmed Monday afternoon the fire personnel have been released. There was no update on the condition of the guard.

The fire alarm was determined to be a false alarm.

The man who attacked fire crews was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, Bauer said.

James Timothy Fickling was charged late Monday afternoon in Dayton Municipal Court with three counts of kidnapping, one count each of felonious assault and attempt to commit felonious assault and two counts of assault on a peace officer. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

The Dayton Police Department’s Violent Offender Unit is continuing to investigate the incident.

Three people were injured after Dayton firefighters responded to a fire alarm around 5 p.m. Saturday at the Premier Health building in the 100 block of North Main Street. One man was arrested after reportedly attacking a security officer and responding fire crews. PHOTO COURTESY LARRY PRICE

Credit: Larry Price

icon to expand image

Credit: Larry Price

Three people were injured after Dayton firefighters responded to a fire alarm around 5 p.m. Saturday at the Premier Health building in the 100 block of North Main Street. One man was arrested after reportedly attacking a security officer and responding fire crews. PHOTO COURTESY LARRY PRICE

Credit: Larry Price

icon to expand image

Credit: Larry Price