Ten firefighters fired, 4 charged after rookie allegedly waterboarded in Florida

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Almost a dozen firefighters and paramedics have been fired, and 4 are dealing with prison costs, after a 19-year-old rookie Florida firefighter was allegedly whipped and waterboarded in a violent hazing incident.

The teenager firefighter informed authorities he was hazed Nov. 26 throughout his second-ever shift at Marion County Fireplace Rescue’s Fireplace Station 21, nicknamed the "friendship" station, after colleagues tried to pressure him to unlock his cellphone to look at a viral video he posted on TikTok.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods mentioned the incident started when 4 metropolis workers on the firehouse needed entry to a TikTok video from the rookie and "chased him down" within the car parking zone.

"As soon as they caught him, they eliminated his pants, took his belt, then started to strike him on the bottom with that belt," Woods mentioned throughout a information convention. "The cellphone was taken … Whereas they have been attempting to get into the cellphone, they took it even a bit of bit additional. They eliminated his underwear, after which once more, started to strike him on his bottom, on his naked pores and skin."

A video, allegedly taken on one of many suspect's cell telephones, confirmed footage of the incident.

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Woods mentioned the rookie was dragged by means of the car parking zone, at which level somebody retrieved a water bottle and a towel, and waterboarded him 3 times.

"The sufferer fought and refused to cooperate and made it abundantly clear to every of them that this was outdoors what he thought, perhaps, may very well be perceived as one thing minor, and every of them ought to have recognized it," Woods mentioned. "Sadly, they took it to this stage."

Investigative interviews, transcripts and paperwork obtained by FOX 35 Orlando element the alleged assault.

Movies obtained by FOX 35 Orlando confirmed interviews with the 4 metropolis workers arrested in reference to the incident. (FOX 35)

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"One got here behind me and like held my arms after which dragged me," the 19-year-old firefighter informed investigators. "[Tate Trauthwein] takes my belt off my pants, and he begins whipping me in my entrance after which, after that, [Edward Kenny] form of rolls over to the facet a bit of bit and [Seth Day] grabs … form of my leg."

"I used to be like, ‘ow, ow.' I am like, ‘this actually hurts.' I used to be like, ‘cease! cease!'" the rookie informed investigators. "I could not breathe. … The one factor I mentioned [after the alleged attack] was that I am by no means working right here once more after which, after that, I left."

Ten workers have been fired in whole, together with senior management on the station, and 4 workers have been criminally charged on Nov. 26, in line with information.

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The 19-year-old firefighter is again at work persevering with to serve the group, in line with the hearth division.

Tate Trauthwein, a 19-year-old firefighter/EMT who has been with the division for a couple of 12 months, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; Edward Kenny, a 22-year-old EMT who has been with the division for about three years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; Seth Day, a 22-year-old firefighter/EMT who has been with the division for about two years, is charged with kidnapping, battery and theft; and Kaylee Bradley, a 25-year-old paramedic who has been with the division for about two years, is charged with theft and principal accessory to robbery.

Bradley, who's accused of taking the rookie's cellphone and videotaping the assault, acknowledged roughhousing was common at the station , however informed investigators a few of the workers "went means too far," noting "that is previous what they usually do as a joke," in line with a video interview recorded by authorities.

The incident allegedly occurred at Marion County Fireplace Rescue Station 21 in Florida, in line with authorities.

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Marion County Fireplace Chief James Banta mentioned throughout the information convention the incident was a "disturbing violation of every thing that this occupation stands for."

"What occurred was unacceptable, inexcusable and essentially opposite to the core values of our hearth division," Banta mentioned. "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. Their habits doesn't replicate who we're and what we stand for in our group."

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Banta added that, outdoors the continued prison case, the hearth division is reviewing the investigation accomplished by the Marion County Sheriff's Office , which "might embrace the actions or inactions of others who might have been conscious and or current throughout this incident."

If extra coverage violations are recognized, Banta mentioned additional administrative actions will comply with.

Investigations by the hearth division and sheriff's workplace stay ongoing.

Alexandra Koch is a Fox Information Digital journalist who covers breaking information, with a concentrate on high-impact occasions that form nationwide dialog.

She has lined main nationwide crises, together with the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror assault, and Texas Hill Nation floods.