FL - 4 first responders arrested over alleged hazing of 19-year-old firefighter, Marion County, FL

[PayrollNerd]

4 first responders arrested over alleged hazing of 19-year-old firefighter

The alleged hazing escalated to where the firefighter was allegedly beaten with a belt and waterboarded, authorities said.

abcnews.go.com

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.


......initially smeared grease on him, according to the affidavit.

The alleged hazing escalated after the suspects tried to get the firefighter's cellphone password after they learned he had a viral TikTok video........


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,.....

.......Then removed the victim's belt and the victim's pants were pulled down.

.......taking the firefighter's cellphone and handing it to Bradley, then whipping him with the belt.

.......took pictures of the firefighter with her phone....

Water was then poured onto the towel approximately three times as he struggled to breathe and the suspects allegedly laughed,.....

The four arrested employees have been terminated....

 

[PayrollNerd]

Florida fire-and-rescue employees arrested after waterboarding co-worker in hazing incident, officials say

Officials said four employees chased and beat the victim after he wouldn't show them a TikTok video on his phone.

www.nbcnews.com

The four employees began hazing the victim while he was working at Fire Station 21 in Ocala on Nov. 16, the release said.

At first, the victim ignored the advances as he continued his work. But as the night went on, the other employees continued hazing him, their actions turning violent, the sheriff's office said.

The victim has been in the job for about a year, Woods said. He has refused to take time off following the incident and has returned to his post, insisting he "has a job to do."

 

[PayrollNerd]

This young man has more maturity than the 4 others combined. He respects his self worth, his privacy, his career and will go far.

The court of public opinion will crucify these morons. First responders and a paramedic no less.

 

[Knox]

This sounds like a frat hazing, hope the accused don't get off easy!!

 

[Twick]

I don’t see this as “hazing” which is usually some sort of initiation ritual. Sounds like straight up bullying and harassment.

 

[PayrollNerd]

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A 19-year-old rookie firefighter says he was violently hazed by colleagues at Marion County Fire Rescue Station 21 over access to his cell phone. Ten employees were fired, and four firefighters and paramedics now face criminal charges as the investigation continues.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Marion County firefighter whipped, waterboarded describes horror to detectives: Investigative docs

A 19-year-old rookie firefighter at Marion County Fire Rescue's Fire Station 21 described to detectives the horror he underwent as his colleagues allegedly tackled him, put him into a leg lock, whipped him with a belt, and waterboarded him – all over the desire to gain access to his cell phone...

www.fox13news.com

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What in the world! It's time to stop calling assault and abuse "hazing." But it sounds like this is being taken very seriously --- good.

 

[Dreamcherry]

What in God's name is wrong with people?!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What in God's name is wrong with people?!

I wondered about the workplace "culture" there and sure enough the above article (I'm linking again below) confirms that this was not a place where professional behavior was expected. And it was a place where bullying was tolerated and called "roughhousing /jokes."

They literally thought it was fine to smear grease on the shirt of a brand new colleague. What does that tell you?

And then escalate as much as they wanted because, in part, that was the culture there. And they all chose to accept and go along with it and take it as far as they wanted.

I'm glad some higher-ups were fired. The buck should have stopped with them long ago. Workplaces need to have professional standards.

All IMO.

Marion County firefighter whipped, waterboarded describes horror to detectives: Investigative docs

A 19-year-old rookie firefighter at Marion County Fire Rescue's Fire Station 21 described to detectives the horror he underwent as his colleagues allegedly tackled him, put him into a leg lock, whipped him with a belt, and waterboarded him – all over the desire to gain access to his cell phone...

www.fox35orlando.com

 

[Twick]

The ages range from 19 to 50. Abusing a teen!

 

[mickey2942]

'That went way too far': Details released in Fla. FD hazing, waterboarding

A 19-year-old Marion County rookie says co-workers restrained, beat and waterboarded him during his second shift while trying to force his phone passcode, prompting firings and criminal charges

www.firerescue1.com

" The agency has fired 10 employees, including a battalion chief, captain, lieutenant, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, and four people have been criminally charged.".

Wow. Looks like they really cleaned house here.

 

[tlcya]

WTF?