4 fireplace and rescue workers have been arrested in reference to the alleged “violent” hazing of a firefighter at a Florida fireplace station, authorities mentioned Wednesday.
The alleged hazing started with “grease being smeared on the sufferer” and escalated from there to the firefighter allegedly being overwhelmed with a belt together with his underwear pulled down and waterboarded, in accordance with Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
“In my 30 years as a firefighter, that is essentially the most egregious factor that I’ve seen been reported to me,” Marion County Hearth Chief James Banta mentioned throughout a press briefing on Wednesday, including that he was “in shock and disgusted.”
Marion County Hearth Chief James Banta speaks throughout a press briefing on Nov. 26, 2025, in Marion County, Florida.
Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace
Three Marion County Hearth Rescue workers — Edward Kenny III, 22, an EMT; Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; and Tate Trauthwein, 19 a firefighter/EMT — have been arrested for kidnapping, theft and battery, authorities mentioned. A fourth — Kaylee Bradley, 25, a paramedic — has been arrested for theft and principal/accent to theft, authorities mentioned. It’s unclear if they’ve attorneys presently.
The incident occurred whereas the alleged sufferer was working a 24-hour shift at Hearth Station 21 in Ocala on Nov. 16, in accordance with the arrest affidavit.
The alleged sufferer informed authorities that a number of firefighters — together with Day and Trauthwein — initially smeared grease on him, in accordance with the affidavit.
“The sufferer acknowledged he tried to not let it trouble him and didn’t retaliate,” the arrest affidavit acknowledged.
A Marion County Hearth Rescue fireplace truck.
Marion County Hearth Rescue
The alleged hazing escalated after the suspects tried to get the firefighter’s cellphone password after they realized he had a viral TikTok video, in accordance with the arrest affidavit. The alleged sufferer informed authorities that Trauthwein requested him about his massive Instagram following, which he attributed to a TikTok video on a dancing pattern that he mentioned was “embarrassing” and he had since deleted and now not had, in accordance with the affidavit.
Trauthwein is accused of then throwing the firefighter’s work boots into the woods close by, and when the firefighter went to retrieve them, he was allegedly grabbed from behind and held down by Kenny and Day, in accordance with the affidavit.
“The sufferer suggested initially he thought they have been simply taking part in round,” the affidavit acknowledged. “Co-defendant Trauthwein then eliminated the sufferer’s belt and the sufferer’s pants have been pulled down. The sufferer now not thought they have been taking part in round.”
Trauthwein is accused of taking the firefighter’s cellphone and handing it to Bradley, then whipping him with the belt, in accordance with the affidavit.
“The sufferer suggested the defendants requested for his cellphone password and suggested they’d cease if he supplied the password,” the affidavit acknowledged.
Bradley allegedly tried to unlock the cellphone and took photos of the firefighter along with her cellphone, in accordance with the affidavit.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods speaks throughout a press briefing on Nov. 26, 2025, in Marion County, Florida.
Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace
The firefighter mentioned he tried to get away however was allegedly held down by Kenny and Day whereas Trauthwein put a towel over his face, in accordance with the affidavit. Water was then poured onto the towel roughly 3 times as he struggled to breathe and the suspects allegedly laughed, in accordance with the affidavit.
The firefighter mentioned he was solely let go when a service name got here in and he left, in accordance with the affidavit. He by no means gave them his cellphone password, in accordance with Woods.
The 4 arrested workers have been terminated, in accordance with Banta.
“Their actions, now the topic of significant felony costs, characterize a disturbing violation of all the things that this career stands for,” Banta mentioned through the press briefing. “What occurred was unacceptable, inexcusable and essentially opposite to the core values of our fireplace division.”
“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,” he continued. “Their conduct doesn’t replicate who we’re and what we stand for.”
The alleged sufferer is a 19-year-old firefighter who had been working for the division for about 5 months on the time of the incident, authorities mentioned. The firefighter, whose title has not been launched, stays on the job, Banta mentioned.
“He is diligent in doing his job. He is been provided the flexibility to take a while, by which he is refused. His actual phrases have been, he has a job to do,” Banta mentioned.
Banta mentioned the incident was reported to him on Nov. 19. The Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace was subsequently contacted to analyze.
“Being the son of a firefighter myself, it’s disappointing,” Woods mentioned through the briefing.
Along with the felony case, Marion County Hearth Rescue is reviewing a sheriff’s workplace investigation to find out if any administrative actions are crucial for others who have been conscious of or current through the incident, Banta mentioned. The company can also be going to retrain management and reaffirm in stations that any such exercise will not be tolerated, he mentioned.
“Our precedence transferring ahead is making certain that each member of this division works in a protected, respectful {and professional} atmosphere,” Banta mentioned.
