The former Lathrop Manteca firefighter that lost his job after he allegedly stabbed a man in a bar fight in Manteca in December of 2017 appears to be headed to trial. 

Brandon Burlingame, who was 35 at the time of the incident, was arrested more than a week after a late-night brawl across street from The Pub and Lounge in Manteca on Dec. 1, 2017 resulted in stab wounds for a 43-year-old man – who suffered “serious” injuries and was taken to a local hospital but survived the attack. 

Witnesses told police that the person responsible was wearing a Jus Brothers motorcycle kutte, and investigators determined that Burlingame was the party responsible. 

He was arrested and charged with premeditated attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm, and other related charges. 

He has pled not guilty to the charges. 

According to court records, Burlingame was set for a jury trial assignment on three separate occasions, but the proceedings were never held. 

He is currently scheduled to appear in Department 8B of the San Joaquin County Superior Court on July 24 at 8:30 a.m. for trial setting before Judge Ronald Northrup. 

Burlingame, who worked as a firefighter for Lathrop Manteca for 12 years and served as a reserve before that, was working as a Firefighter-Engineer at the time of the incident. Less than a month after his arrest his employment with the agency was terminated – citing a general conduct clause in the collective bargaining agreement between the firefighters union and the district that states that “in matters of general conduct, members shall not commit any act tending to bring reproach or discredit upon the District or its members” and “no member shall act in a manner, or be party to any act which tends to impair the good order and discipline of the district.”

News of the arrest was first posted by the Manteca Police Department on social media, and a response from Lathrop Manteca soon followed. 

The response to the City of Manteca’s post about the incident was so intense that the city had to issue a clarification that Burlingame was not employed by Manteca Fire and direct all questions pertaining to his employment to the Lathrop Manteca Fire District. 

“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,” read the statement released by the district. “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.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.