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Fireman who assaulted cop arrested for DWI, speeding

By Nathan Duke

Sean Murray, 28, of Hicksville, L.I., was held on $5,000 cash bail after being charged Saturday with reckless driving, DWI and several vehicle and traffic violations at the Nassau County District Court in Hempstead, L.I., a spokesman for Nassau DA Kathleen Rice said. Police who arrested Murray allegedly smelled alcohol on his breath when they arrested him, the spokesman said. Murray worked as a city firefighter for two years and was previously stationed at Ladder 140 in Ridgewood.At the time of his arrest, Murray allegedly was driving 124 miles per hour eastbound on the Long Island Expressway in his 2004 Hyundai Tiburon, a DA spokesman said. He was pulled over near Exit 38 and refused to take a sobriety test, the spokesman said.Murray was previously arrested in August on charges of attacking off-duty city police officer Ahmad Kessba, 24, Queens DA Richard Brown said. The firefighter was waiting outside the home of his ex-girlfriend on Cornelia Street in Ridgewood at 5:15 a.m. on Aug. 16 when Kessba dropped the woman off in his car, the DA said.Murray allegedly approached Kessba's car and told him to get out, the DA said. Kessba told Murray he was a police officer, but the firefighter allegedly pulled him out of the car, threw him to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked the victim in the face and head, the DA said.Kessba was treated for a brain hemorrhage, bruising and bleeding to the head, face and mouth, the DA said.Murray was charged with assault and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, the DA said.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.