Firefighter To Blame For Man's Fall?

Oct. 19 - KGO (KGO) -- There are serious questions tonight about whether a San Francisco firefighter took unnecessary risks that cost a young man from Seattle his life last week.

Firefighters tell the I-Team that the firefighter in question has a history of being too aggressive on the job. Today, we've been able to talk to so many people involved in this tragedy, to show you a clear picture of what happened.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nick Torrico left Seattle last week after his family tried to get him into drug and alcohol rehab.

Bonnie Torrico, mother: "He declined, he wasn't ready for that, but he has admitted to me many times that he was an alcoholic."

Torrico arrived in San Francisco and the next day he climbed a fire escape on a Powell Street building and began waving at the cable cars. A neighbor across the street snapped pictures, while several doormen and security guards climbed to the roof. Fire and police crews arrived. Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White says Torrico was suicidal.

ABC7's Dan Noyes: "He was threatening to jump?"

Joanne Hayes-White, SFPD Chief: "That's my understanding."

Dan Noyes: "Who said that?"

Joanne Hayes-White: "Members form our department."

Firefighters filed a report obtained by the I-Team, claiming Torrico was "threatening to jump." But witnesses on the scene say that wasn't true.

Regidor Domingo, witness: "The guy was just waving his hands to the people, smiling, waving. I thought, what's wrong with this guy, right?"

Police negotiators questioned Torrico while he stood on the red tiles, but he kept repeating one answer.

Felipe Demonteverde, witness: "And he's screaming, 'I want to talk to my sister, I want to talk to my sister.'"

While the negotiators spoke with Torrico, the head of Station One's rescue squad, Vic Wyrsch, crept toward Torrico from his blind side and grabbed him. Torrico fought back.

Jamie Rodriguez, witness: "With that struggle -- the fire department struggled with him up on the roof, on the ledge of the roof -- and he didn't want to go down with hom so he just let him go."

Torrico fell to the ground, he was still breathing after impact. He died the next day at San Francisco General.

Veteran firefighters inside the department accuse of Wyrsch of being a cowboy, of taking an unnecessary risk that may have cost Torrico his life. The family agrees.

Cynthia Torrico, sister: "Why would a fireman lunge at him if he was talking? And it seems like an extreme thing to do."

Chief Hayes-White defends Wyrsch.

Joanne Hayes-White: "'I'm the hero, he has a hero complex,' I've heard that, and I totally discount that and it's actually disappointing to hear because I know this member and all the members of the SFFD to be not looking for glory, not looking to be the hero, but really fulfilling what they came to the job for."

We stopped by Station One today and Vic Wyrsch declined to be interviewed. He says he wishes he could talk, but Chief Hayes-White won't let him.

The Firefighters Union president says this has been tough on the 17-year veteran.

John Hanley, San Francisco Firefighters Union: "It is a challenging affect on him, and his company, Station One, the busiest fire house in America. It's a devastating day for those guys."

It's been especially devastating for Nick Torrico's family.

Cynthia Torrico: "The overall feeling I had was how much I missed him and how much it hurt because I would never feel him in my arms again. It took a part of me away. I don't feel whole anymore."

We had heard from several sources that the police on the scene wanted to arrest Wyrsch for grabbing Torrico without the permission of police negotiators who were on the ground. Police Chief Heather Fong and none of her brass will comment tonight.

This investigation started with a tip from inside the fire department who said, "this story has to get out."

Have a tip on this or another investigation? E-mail the ABC7 I-Team or call 1-888-40-I-TEAM.

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