D.C.'s fire department is downplaying an incident in which an Emergency Medical Technician was cut by a fire lieutenant as 'negligent horseplay'. But the victim -- who received ten stitches -- doesn't think so.

"Mr. McLaughlin doesn't appear to believe it was horseplay," said Kenneth Lyons, the head of the ambulance union.

The incident unfolded about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Engine 5, on Dent Place NW. According to a news release, the two on-duty employees were "playing around". According to Lyons, the firefighter, Lt. Lawrence Clarke, started swinging a knife at EMT Ed McLaughlin without provocation.

"The final blow was to Mr. McLaughlin's wrist and the back of his hand," said Lyons. "He was transported to the hospital, G.W. hospital."

The fire department said investigators had termed the incident 'negligent horseplay'. According to the department, "[t]hough this resulted in a serious injury, it appears to have been the result of an accident." The fire department also called the behavior "not acceptable", and said it would "not be tolerated."

But Lyons said that after the incident, Lt. Clarke went back to work, until the hospital called police. But Lt. Clarke was not arrested, upsetting the union.

"Mr. Clark either should have been detained by the police or arrested -- none of this occurred," said Lyons.

Lt. Clarke has been placed on administrative leave, according to the fire department. The matter remains under investigation by both the fire department's internal affairs division and the Metropolitan Police Department (web|news) .

According to the fire department statement, Lt. Clarke will be "given due process through our trial board system."

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