Four fire and rescue employees have been arrested in connection with the alleged “violent” hazing of a firefighter at a Florida fire station, authorities said Wednesday.
The alleged hazing began with “grease being smeared on the victim” and escalated from there to the firefighter allegedly being beaten with a belt with his underwear pulled down and waterboarded, according to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
“In my 30 years as a firefighter, this is the most egregious thing that I’ve seen been reported to me,” Marion County Fire Chief James Banta said during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that he was “in shock and disgusted.”
Three Marion County Fire Rescue employees — Edward Kenny III, 22, an EMT; Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; and Tate Trauthwein, 19 a firefighter/EMT — have been arrested for kidnapping, robbery and battery, authorities said. A fourth — Kaylee Bradley, 25, a paramedic — has been arrested for robbery and principal/accessory to robbery, authorities said. It is unclear if they have attorneys at this time.
The incident occurred while the alleged victim was working a 24-hour shift at Fire Station 21 in Ocala on Nov. 16, according to the arrest affidavit.
The alleged victim told authorities that several firefighters — including Day and Trauthwein — initially smeared grease on him, according to the affidavit.
“The victim stated he tried not to let it bother him and did not retaliate,” the arrest affidavit stated.
The alleged hazing escalated after the suspects tried to get the firefighter’s cellphone password after they learned he had a viral TikTok video, according to the arrest affidavit. The alleged victim told authorities that Trauthwein asked him about his large Instagram following, which he attributed to a TikTok video on a dancing trend that he said was “embarrassing” and he had since deleted and no longer had, according to the affidavit.
Trauthwein is accused of then throwing the firefighter’s work boots into the woods nearby, and when the firefighter went to retrieve them, he was allegedly grabbed from behind and held down by Kenny and Day, according to the affidavit.
“The victim advised initially he thought they were just playing around,” the affidavit stated. “Co-defendant Trauthwein then removed the victim’s belt and the victim’s pants were pulled down. The victim no longer thought they were playing around.”
Trauthwein is accused of taking the firefighter’s cellphone and handing it to Bradley, then whipping him with the belt, according to the affidavit.
“The victim advised the defendants asked for his cell phone password and advised they would stop if he provided the password,” the affidavit stated.
Bradley allegedly tried to unlock the cellphone and took pictures of the firefighter with her phone, according to the affidavit.
The firefighter said he tried to get away but was allegedly held down by Kenny and Day while Trauthwein put a towel over his face, according to the affidavit. Water was then poured onto the towel approximately three times as he struggled to breathe and the suspects allegedly laughed, according to the affidavit.
The firefighter said he was only let go when a service call came in and he left, according to the affidavit. He never gave them his cellphone password, according to Woods.
The four arrested employees have been terminated, according to Banta.
“Their actions, now the subject of serious felony charges, represent a disturbing violation of everything that this profession stands for,” Banta said during the press briefing. “What occurred was unacceptable, inexcusable and fundamentally contrary to the core values of our fire department.”
“Let me be absolutely clear, these individuals involved in this incident forfeited their right to wear the uniform the moment they chose an act and manner that endangered, harmed and betrayed a fellow firefighter,” he continued. “Their behavior does not reflect who we are and what we stand for.”
The alleged victim is a 19-year-old firefighter who had been working for the department for about five months at the time of the incident, authorities said. The firefighter, whose name has not been released, remains on the job, Banta said.
“He’s diligent in doing his job. He’s been offered the ability to take some time, in which he’s refused. His exact words were, he has a job to do,” Banta said.
Banta said the incident was reported to him on Nov. 19. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was subsequently contacted to investigate.
“Being the son of a firefighter myself, it is disappointing,” Woods said during the briefing.
In addition to the criminal case, Marion County Fire Rescue is reviewing a sheriff’s office investigation to determine if any administrative actions are necessary for others who were aware of or present during the incident, Banta said. The agency is also going to retrain leadership and reaffirm in stations that this type of activity is not tolerated, he said.
“Our priority moving forward is ensuring that every member of this department works in a safe, respectful and professional environment,” Banta said.
