Ten firefighters fired, 4 charged after rookie allegedly waterboarded in Florida
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Nearly a dozen firefighters and paramedics have been fired and four face criminal charges after a 19-year-old rookie Florida firefighter was allegedly whipped and waterboarded in a violent hazing incident.
The young firefighter told authorities he was harassed on Nov. 26 during his second shift at Marion County Fire Station 21, nicknamed the “buddy” station, after colleagues forced him to unlock his phone to watch the viral video he posted on TikTok.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the incident began when four city employees at the fire department wanted to access a TikTok video from the rookie and “chased” him through the parking lot.
“When they caught him, they took his pants off, took his belt, and then they started hitting him in the back with that belt,” Woods said at a news conference. “The phone was taken… While she was trying to get into the phone, they took it a little further. They took off her underwear and then started hitting her back again, on her bare skin.”
Footage of the incident was captured in a video allegedly shot on the mobile phone of one of the suspects.
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Woods said the rookie was dragged across the parking lot, while someone took a water bottle and towel and waterboarded him three times.
“The victim fought and refused to cooperate and made it clear to each of them that this was outside of what he thought it might be, that it could perhaps be perceived as a minor thing, and that they each needed to know that,” Woods said. he said. “Unfortunately, they brought it to this level.”
Investigative interviews, transcripts and obtained documents FOX 35 Orlando Describe the alleged assault in detail.
Videos obtained by FOX 35 Orlando showed interviews with four city employees arrested in connection with the incident. (FOX 35)
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“Someone came up behind me and grabbed my arms and dragged me,” the 19-year-old firefighter told investigators. “[Tate Trauthwein] He takes my belt out of my pants and starts whipping me in front of me and then, [Edward Kenny] rolls slightly to the side and [Seth Day] “He’s kind of holding my leg.”
“I was like, ‘Uh, uh,’ I said, ‘This really hurts.’ I was like, ‘Stop!’ stop!'” the rookie told investigators. “I couldn’t breathe… All I said was [after the alleged attack] “I will never work here again and after that I left.”
According to records, on November 26, a total of ten employees, including senior managers at the station, were fired and four employees were charged.
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The 19-year-old firefighter returned to work continuing to serve the community, according to the fire department.
Tate Trauthwein, a 19-year-old firefighter/EMT officer who has been with the department for about a year, is charged with kidnapping, battery and robbery; Edward Kenny, a 22-year-old EMT who has been with the department for nearly three years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and robbery; Seth Day, a 22-year-old firefighter/ATM attendant who has been with the department for nearly two years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and robbery; and Kaylee Bradley, a 25-year-old paramedic who has been with the department for nearly two years, are charged with robbery and principal accessory to robbery.
Bradley, who is accused of taking the rookie’s phone and videotaping the attack, acknowledged that bullying was common at the station, but told investigators that some employees “went too far,” adding that “it went beyond what they would normally do as a joke,” according to a video interview recorded by authorities.
According to authorities, the incident allegedly occurred at Marion County Fire Rescue Station 21 in Florida.
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Marion County Fire Chief James Banta said during the press conference that the incident was “a disturbing violation of everything this profession stands for.”
“What happened is unacceptable, inexcusable and fundamentally contrary to the core values of our fire department,” Banta said. “Let me be clear, the individuals involved in this incident lost their right to wear the uniform the moment they chose a behavior and attitude that endangered, harmed, and betrayed a fellow firefighter. Their behavior does not reflect who we are and what we represent in our community.”
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Banta added that aside from the ongoing criminal case, the fire department is reviewing the investigation completed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, which “may include the actions or inactions of others who were aware or present at the time of this incident.”
If additional policy violations are identified, further administrative action will be taken, Banta said.
The investigation by the fire brigade and police departments continues.
