Practically a dozen firefighters and paramedics had been fired, and 4 are dealing with prison expenses, after a 19-year-old rookie Florida firefighter was allegedly whipped and waterboarded in a violent hazing incident.
The teenager firefighter advised authorities he was hazed Nov. 26 throughout his second-ever shift at Marion County Fireplace Rescue’s Fireplace Station 21, nicknamed the “friendship” station, after colleagues tried to power him to unlock his telephone to observe a viral video he posted on TikTok.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods mentioned the incident started when 4 metropolis staff on the firehouse needed entry to a TikTok video from the rookie and “chased him down” within the car parking zone.
“As soon as they caught him, they eliminated his pants, took his belt, then started to strike him on the bottom with that belt,” Woods mentioned throughout a information convention. “The telephone was taken … Whereas they had been attempting to get into the telephone, they took it even just a little bit additional. They eliminated his underwear, after which once more, started to strike him on his bottom, on his naked pores and skin.”
Woods mentioned the rookie was dragged by way of the car parking zone, at which level somebody retrieved a water bottle and a towel, and waterboarded him 3 times.
“The sufferer fought and refused to cooperate and made it abundantly clear to every of them that this was outdoors what he thought, perhaps, may very well be perceived as one thing minor, and every of them ought to have recognized it,” Woods mentioned. “Sadly, they took it to this stage.”
Investigative interviews, transcripts and paperwork obtained by FOX 35 Orlando element the alleged assault.
“One got here behind me and like held my arms after which dragged me,” the 19-year-old firefighter advised investigators. “[Tate Trauthwein] takes my belt off my pants, and he begins whipping me in my entrance after which, after that, [Edward Kenny] sort of rolls over to the aspect just a little bit and [Seth Day] grabs … sort of my leg.”
“I used to be like, ‘ow, ow.’ I’m like, ‘this actually hurts.’ I used to be like, ‘cease! cease!’” the rookie advised investigators. “I couldn’t breathe. … The one factor I mentioned [after the alleged attack] was that I’m by no means working right here once more after which, after that, I left.”
Ten staff had been fired in complete, together with senior management on the station, and 4 staff had been criminally charged on Nov. 26, in keeping with data.
The 19-year-old firefighter is again at work persevering with to serve the neighborhood, in keeping with the fireplace division.
Tate Trauthwein, a 19-year-old firefighter/EMT who has been with the division for a few yr, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; Edward Kenny, a 22-year-old EMT who has been with the division for about three years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; Seth Day, a 22-year-old firefighter/EMT who has been with the division for about two years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; and Kaylee Bradley, a 25-year-old paramedic who has been with the division for about two years, is charged with theft and principal accent to theft.
Bradley, who’s accused of taking the rookie’s telephone and videotaping the assault, acknowledged roughhousing was widespread on the station, however advised investigators among the staff “went method too far,” noting “that’s previous what they usually do as a joke,” in keeping with a video interview recorded by authorities.
Marion County Fireplace Chief James Banta mentioned in the course of the information convention the incident was a “disturbing violation of all the pieces that this career stands for.”
“What occurred was unacceptable, inexcusable and basically opposite to the core values of our fireplace division,” Banta mentioned. “Let me be completely clear, these people concerned on this incident forfeited their proper to put on the uniform the second they selected an act and method that endangered, harmed and betrayed a fellow firefighter. Their conduct doesn’t mirror who we’re and what we stand for in our neighborhood.”
Banta added that, outdoors the continued prison case, the fireplace division is reviewing the investigation accomplished by the Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace, which “could embrace the actions or inactions of others who could have been conscious and or current throughout this incident.”
If further coverage violations are recognized, Banta mentioned additional administrative actions will observe.
Investigations by the fireplace division and sheriff’s workplace stay ongoing.
