Firefighter Pleads Not Guilty to Domestic Violence Stemming From Alleged Peninsula Attack

A San Francisco Fire Department battalion chief pleaded not guilty Monday to misdemeanor domestic violence charges in San Mateo County stemming from an alleged assault at a Daly City restaurant last month, prosecutors said.

Samuel Romero, 54, was charged with assault and domestic battery after allegedly punching a man and slapping his girlfriend when the male victim made a comment about the couple's difference in age at Original Joe's of Westlake around 10 p.m. on Feb. 20, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

The victim has not cooperated with the investigation and Romero is out on bail, prosecutors said.

Romero remains on active duty with the fire department, according to fire spokesman Jonathan Baxter.

"We do have an investigation into the incident," Baxter said.

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for May 11, and the case is set to go to jury trial July 10, according to prosecutors.

Defense attorney Julia Jayne could not immediately be reached for comment.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock