Local Firefighter Pleads Guilty To Assault, Abduction

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus firefighter who was arrested on several charges in late 2007 made a plea deal and retired from the division.

It’s a case NBC 4 has been following since late 2007, and NBC 4 reported with an update Monday.

Andrew Conti was arrested and charged after Columbus police said he tried to get back at a man whom he thought burglarized his father’s home.

Conti, a 14-year veteran of Columbus fire, was arrested in January of 2008.

Conti allegedly held 44-year-old David Stropki against his will, according to a Columbus police report.

Once the victim was in Conti’s custody, he handcuffed, maced and hit the victim several times with a ball bat, according to the original warrant.

The alleged crime happened on Dec. 30, 2007.

But police officials told NBC 4back in January 2008 that Conti believed Stropki was involved in the burglary of his father’s home.

The original charges against Conti included kidnapping, felonious assault, abduction, intimidation of crime victims and possession of criminal tools.

Conti was arraigned and posted bond in January 2008.

Conti was taken off the streets and placed behind a desk during the police investigation.

Conti made a plea deal Friday, March 13, in Franklin County Common Pleas court.

Conti pleaded guilty to felonious assault and the abduction charge. The other four charges were dismissed.

A pre-sentencing investigation was planned, and Conti was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, April 29, at 9 a.m.

NBC 4 received notice from Columbus fire over the weekend that Conti retired from the division.

Columbus fire said the retirement means there would not be an internal investigation to the incident.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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