4 fire and rescue staff members have actually been detained about the declared “fierce” hazing of a firemen at a Florida station house, authorities stated Wednesday.
The claimed hazing started with “oil being smeared on the target” and rose from there to the firemen apparently being defeated with a belt with his undergarments took down and waterboarded, according to Marion Region Constable Billy Woods.
” In my thirty years as a firemen, this is one of the most outright point that I have actually seen been reported to me,” Marion Region Fire Principal James Banta stated throughout a press rundown on Wednesday, including that he was “in shock and ashamed.”
Marion Region Fire Principal James Banta talks throughout a press rundown on Nov. 26, 2025, in Marion Region, Florida.
Marion Region Constable’s Workplace
3 Marion Region Fire Rescue staff members– Edward Kenny III, 22, an Emergency Medical Technician; Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; and Tate Trauthwein, 19 a firefighter/EMT– have actually been detained for kidnapping, break-in and battery, authorities stated. A 4th– Kaylee Bradley, 25, a paramedic– has actually been detained for break-in and principal/accessory to break-in, authorities stated. It is uncertain if they have lawyers currently.
The case happened while the claimed target was functioning a 24-hour change at Station house 21 in Ocala on Nov. 16, according to the apprehension sworn statement.
The claimed target informed authorities that numerous firemans– consisting of Day and Trauthwein– at first smeared oil on him, according to the sworn statement.
” The target mentioned he attempted not to allow it trouble him and did not strike back,” the apprehension sworn statement mentioned.
A Marion Region Fire Rescue fire engine.
Marion Region Fire Rescue
The claimed hazing rose after the suspects attempted to obtain the firemen’s cellular phone password after they discovered he had a viral TikTok video clip, according to the apprehension sworn statement. The claimed target informed authorities that Trauthwein asked him concerning his big Instagram adhering to, which he credited to a TikTok video clip on a dance pattern that he stated was “unpleasant” and he had actually because removed and no more had, according to the sworn statement.
Trauthwein is charged of after that tossing the firemen’s job boots right into the timbers close by, and when the firemen mosted likely to recover them, he was apparently ordered from behind and held back by Kenny and Day, according to the sworn statement.
” The target suggested at first he believed they were simply messing around,” the sworn statement mentioned. “Co-defendant Trauthwein after that got rid of the target’s belt and the target’s trousers were taken down. The target no more believed they were messing around.”
Trauthwein is charged of taking the firemen’s cellular phone and commending Bradley, after that whipping him with the belt, according to the sworn statement.
” The target suggested the accuseds requested for his cellular phone password and suggested they would certainly quit if he supplied the password,” the sworn statement mentioned.
Bradley apparently attempted to open the cellular phone and took images of the firemen with her phone, according to the sworn statement.
Marion Region Constable Billy Woods talks throughout a press rundown on Nov. 26, 2025, in Marion Region, Florida.
Marion Region Constable’s Workplace
The firemen stated he attempted to flee yet was apparently held back by Kenny and Day while Trauthwein placed a towel over his face, according to the sworn statement. Water was after that put onto the towel about 3 times as he battled to take a breath and the suspects apparently chuckled, according to the sworn statement.
The firemen stated he was just release when a solution telephone call was available in and he left, according to the sworn statement. He never ever provided his cellular phone password, according to Woods.
The 4 detained staff members have actually been ended, according to Banta.
” Their activities, currently the topic of significant felony fees, stand for a troubling infraction of every little thing that this career represents,” Banta stated throughout journalism rundown. “What happened was inappropriate, untenable and basically in contrast to the core worths of our fire division.”
” Allow me be definitely clear, these people associated with this case waived their right to put on the attire the minute they picked an act and way that jeopardized, hurt and betrayed a fellow firemen,” he proceeded. “Their actions does not mirror that we are and what we mean.”
The claimed target is a 19-year-old firemen that had actually been helping the division for concerning 5 months at the time of the case, authorities stated. The firemen, whose name has actually not been launched, stays on duty, Banta stated.
” He’s persistent in doing his work. He’s been used the capability to spend some time, in which he’s declined. His specific words were, he works to do,” Banta stated.
Banta stated the case was reported to him on Nov. 19. The Marion Region Constable’s Workplace was ultimately called to check out.
” Being the kid of a firemen myself, it is frustrating,” Woods stated throughout the rundown.
Along with the criminal instance, Marion Region Fire Rescue is assessing a constable’s workplace examination to identify if any type of management activities are needed for others that understood or existing throughout the case, Banta stated. The firm is likewise mosting likely to re-train management and declare in terminals that this kind of task is not endured, he stated.
” Our top priority moving on is guaranteeing that every participant of this division operates in a secure, considerate and expert setting,” Banta stated.
