Four employees from the Marion County Fire and Rescue Department in Ocala, Florida, were arrested for their involvement in a “violent hazing incident” that included allegedly waterboarding a 19-year-old coworker.
“A small group of employees treated the firehouse like a frat house,” Marion County commissioner Carl Zalak said during a press conference on Wednesday, November 26. “The behavior is absolutely disgraceful, disrespectful and it will simply not be tolerated.”
Detectives from the office’s major crimes division arrested Edward Kenny III, Seth Day and Tate Trauthewein on November 26 on charges of kidnapping, robbery and battery, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Additionally, Kaylee Bradley was arrested on charges of robbery and principal/accessory to robbery.
Fire Chief James Banta confirmed during the press conference that Kenny, 22, Day, 22, Trauthewein, 19, and Bradley, 25, have all been fired from their jobs.
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The suspects started hazing the victim while he was working at Fire Station 21 in Ocala, Florida, on November 16, per the release. The victim initially ignored the advances as he continued his work, though the hazing continued and their actions eventually turned violent.
Sheriff Billy Woods explained that the incident began when the employees smeared grease on the victim and later chased him through the parking lot. Trauthwein then allegedly threw the victim’s boots into the nearby woods, while Kenny grabbed him from behind and pushed them both to the ground.
The violent attack continued when Kenny and Day pinned the victim down as Trauthwein took off the victim’s belt and pulled down his pants.
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Bradley and Trauthwein then took the victim’s phone and demanded that he tell them the password so that they could unlock it. The victim refused, so Trauthwein whipped him with his belt as Kenny and Day held him down.
The sheriff’s office said the fired employees were unable to unlock the phone, which ultimately locked itself following several failed attempts. Trauthwein then pulled down the victim’s underwear and used the belt to hit his bare skin.
The group dragged the victim to another area, where Trauthwein covered his face with a towel and poured water over it, with the sheriff’s office explaining they were “waterboarding the victim.” Woods said that the suspects used a water bottle to waterboard the victim three times.
The assault eventually ended when a call for service came into the station.
After the fire and rescue department learned of the allegations, they contacted the sheriff’s office and an investigation was launched.
Following the arrests, the suspects were taken to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Jail. They are currently waiting to make their first appearance in court.
