A judge dropped charges Wednesday against a Miam-Dade Fire captain who was arrested for pointing a gun at a police officer.
Nicholas Marian, 55, was granted Stand Your Ground immunity in a bizarre encounter with a Miami Shores police officer. Fellow firefighters who had been rallying behind Marian were at the courthouse celebrating the ruling.
The fire captain was arrested in March of 2016 for drawing his shot gun at an officer who knocked on his front door. Police responded to Marian's home after getting a complaint about an erratic driver in the neighborhood.
Marian's pick-up truck matched the description of the vehicle involved. When the officer knocked on his door, Marian opened it while holding a shotgun.
The firefighter argues that he always answers his door with the gun in hand as a means of protection because he lives in a rough part of town.
Prosecutors asked the judge to deny the request for immunity, claiming among other things that Marian pointed the shotgun for more than a second and knew they were police officers.
Marian was elated to have the case dismissed. "It's 1,000 lbs just lifted off my shoulders," he said.
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Shortly after his arrest, Marian was relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the case. It's unclear if he will be reinstated.
