Jennifer Vazquez

Former FDNY Union Head Arrested for DWI, Cocaine Possession After Losing Control of His Vehicle in Midtown: Police

What to Know

  • An FDNY pension boss and former firefighters union head was arrested for DWI and possession of cocaine
  • Stephen Cassidy, 62, was driving his Prius when he lost control in Midtown shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday and jumped the curb
  • Police say Cassidy was found to be in possession of cocaine

An FDNY pension director and former firefighters union head was arrested for DWI and possession of cocaine after losing control of his vehicle and jumping a curb in Midtown Tuesday night, authorities say.

Stephen Cassidy, 62, was allegedly driving a Prius when he lost control on 30th Street and 7th Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. He mounted the sidewalk, struck a dumpster and stopped in front of a store, authorities say.

"He was sitting on the driver's side of the car, mumbling to someone," witness Jakob Grabel, 19, said. "He seemed very out of it, he didn't seem to know what was going on."

"I saw him try to get up and walk away, but some good Samaritans grabbed him and told him, 'You can't go,' and held him until police came," he said. 

Cellphone video taken by Grabel shows a man in a suit talking to police officers, unsteady on his feet and struggling to climb into an ambulance. 

According to police, Cassidy was found to be in possession of some amount of cocaine.

He was charged with DWI and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

In 2016, Cassidy stepped down as the President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association to become the executive director of the Fire Pension Fund, where his salary is more than $200,000 a year. 

In a statement, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro announced that following his arrest Cassidy has been "removed from his position as Executive Director of the New York City Fire Pension Fund."

Messages have been left with the FDNY and the firefighters union. Cassidy is expected to appear before a judge Wednesday evening. 

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