MANTECA — Police have arrested a Lathrop-Manteca Fire District firefighter on suspicion of attempted murder after it is alleged he stabbed a man at a bar, according to authorities.
The Manteca Police Department’s Gang Suppression Unit arrested Brandon Burlingame, 35, about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and a weapon enhancement. His bail is set at $1 million.
Police allege Burlingame stabbed a 43-year-old man about 10:13 p.m. Dec. 1 at The Pub & Lounge at 1305 N. Main St. Officers investigating the case learned the suspect was wearing a Jus Brothers Motorcycle Club patch at the time of the assault.
When police arrived, the suspect had left the scene, but police later identified Burlingame as the suspect, according to the Manteca Police Department.
The victim suffered serious injuries in the attack and was taken to the hospital, but he is expected to survive.
Burlingame, a Manteca resident, is a Lathrop-Manteca Fire District firefighter engineer. According to public records, he earned more than $124,000 in pay and benefits last year. Burlingame is not an employee of the Manteca Fire Department, which is a separate agency.
The Fire District, which protects rural areas of Lathrop and Manteca, released a statement Thursday acknowledging the arrest without mentioning Burlingame by name.
“The alleged actions of this member are in direct conflict with the mission of the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District and the oath that we swear to uphold,” the agency wrote. “It is imperative that the public understand that at no time was the safety of the public in jeopardy while this member was on duty.”
Lathrop-Manteca fire said the alleged stabbing was the result of actions by one member that happened when he was not in uniform, in district property or on duty. It said the Fire District is cooperating with Manteca police, but that by law it could not comment on personnel matters and would refrain from commenting further on the allegations.
The Jus Brothers Motorcycle Club was formed in Tracy on April 13, 1990, according to the website One Percenter Bikers.
“The Jus Brothers Motorcycle Club patch consists of a center patch in the shape of a Route 66 road sign to symbolize the freedom and adventure of the open road, inside of which there is the head of an Eagle, symbolizing patriotism and the connection with America,” according to the site. “There are 7 stars at the top of the patch, one for each of the 7 founding members of the Jus Brothers Tracy Chapter.”
Anyone who has any information on the Dec. 1 incident is asked to bla bla bla…
