Levittown dog sitter Jeremy Henggler calls firefighters 'parasites,' threatens Virginia Huie with knife
<p>A Levittown business owner facing backlash over a Facebook post — in which he called a firefighter killed in the line of duty a "parasite" — was arrested Monday after threatening a News 12 reporter with a knife. </p>
News 12 Staff
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May 2, 2017, 2:34 AM
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Updated 2,558 days ago
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A Levittown business owner facing backlash over a Facebook post — in which he called a firefighter killed in the line of duty a "parasite" — was arrested Monday after threatening a News 12 reporter with a knife.
Jeremy Henggler, owner of Jay's Sit and Stay, turned to Facebook and complained that he was losing time and money due to traffic stemming from the funeral procession of FDNY Firefighter William Tolley, who was killed in the line of duty.
"Stuck in traffic for over an hour, with no escape options, all because some agent of the state died," the post read. He went on to describe firefighters as "parasites" and used a profanity in the post.
Henggler's words received a barrage of more than 2,900 comments, most of them negative. The New York City Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation even called for a boycott of his business.
When News 12's Virginia Huie attempted to get Henggler's side of the story, he brandished a knife.
"Get off my property," he said, before pulling a 6-inch blade out of a sheath strapped to his side.
News 12 cameras recorded Henggler approach Huie with the knife drawn. She called 911, and he was arrested and charged with menacing.
