STOCKTON, Calif. – A viral video circulating on social media captures an altercation between an Alameda County firefighter and a driver, with some calling the firefighter’s remarks offensive. The incident reportedly occurred following a traffic dispute on Friday morning.
The driver, identified as Vath Touch, claimed that the firefighter, who has not been named, attempted to run him off the road on Highway 99, near Armstrong and Harney Lane in Lodi. According to Touch, the situation escalated into a verbal confrontation.
In the video, the two men can be seen arguing about who was at fault for the incident. The firefighter accuses Touch of speeding recklessly. In response, Touch informs him that the police are on their way.
At this point in the video, the firefighter can be heard saying, “OK, dumb Mexican.” Touch responds by asking, “Ohhh, I’m Mexican, OK?” The firefighter then retorts, “Or Filipino. WTF are you?” to which Touch replies, “Don’t be racist, bro. Don’t be racist.”
The firefighter continues the verbal exchange, mentioning his job and making a derogatory comment suggesting Touch go back to his “$10-an-hour lawn job.”
Following the incident, Touch explained to KCRA why he decided to record the interaction. “I was going to get out of my car and talk to him, but then when I saw him coming and rushing up, I decided no, I’m going to play it safe, press record and see what he wants,” Touch said. “So he came up and started saying all that stuff to me.”
The Alameda County Fire Department confirmed that the individual in the video is one of their employees. In response to the footage, Fire Chief William McDonald addressed the situation, stating, “Some language used does not align with our values and standards.”
He added, “Our department is committed to gathering all the facts and we are addressing the situation in a manner that reflects our dedication to integrity, professionalism, and community trust.”
McDonald has announced plans to hold a press conference at the fire department’s headquarters on Monday to further address the incident.
VIDEO: https://x.com/unlimited_ls/status/1828085388360966283
