MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Four Marion County Fire Rescue employees were arrested and terminated from the department following a violent hazing incident, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
On Nov. 16, the 19-year-old victim, who had been with the department for almost a year, was subjected to escalating harassment by coworkers while working his shift at Fire Station 21, deputies said. The situation escalated when the victim was chased down in the parking lot by the accused employees, the sheriff’s office said.
“It all began over grease being smeared on the victim and a pizza later in the afternoon," Sheriff Billy Woods said in a Wednesday news conference. “Also, the whole thing began because the four who are arrested, or individuals at the firehouse, wanted a video from TikTok that the victim had.”
According to the investigation, firefighter Tate Trauthwein, 19, threw the victim’s boots into the woods near the station. When the victim went to retrieve them, 22-year-old Edward Kenny III, an EMT, grabbed him from behind, causing both to fall to the ground, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies said Kenny and 22-year-old Seth Day, a firefighter and EMT, then held the victim down while Trauthwein removed the victim’s belt and pulled down his pants. Trauthwein and paramedic Kaylee Bradley, 25, took the victim’s cell phone and demanded his passcode.
When the victim refused, Trauthwein whipped him with the belt as Kenny and Day restrained him. The abuse intensified as the victim’s underwear was pulled down and he was struck again on his bare skin. The sheriff’s office said that’s when one of the accused went to get a bottle of water and a towel and waterboarded the victim three times while others held him down.
“It’s disappointing. Absolutely. As the son of a firefighter myself, it is disappointing,” Woods said.
Fire Chief James Banta also condemned the actions.
“Their actions, now the subject of serious felony charges, represent a disturbing violation of everything that this profession stands for," Banta said.
The four accused were arrested on Wednesday. Kenny, Day, and Trauthwein face charges of kidnapping, battery, and robbery, while Bradley is charged with robbery and accessory to robbery.
According to Woods, the kidnapping charge stems from the victim being forcibly dragged through the parking lot from one location to another.
During their first appearance on Thursday, bond was set at $100,000 for Bradley, and $101,000 each for Day, Trauthwein and Kenny. So far, only Trauthwein has bonded out of jail.
According to Banta, Bradley has been with the department for nearly three years, Trauthwein for 15 months, Kenny for more than three years, and Day for nearly three years.
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