MARION COUNTY, Fla. – After four Marion County Fire Rescue employees were arrested and terminated from their roles last month, the agency has announced another round of firings.
On Friday, MCFR revealed that another six employees were fired, including leadership personnel who were on duty at the time of a violent hazing incident.
According to fire officials, the incident originally happened on Nov. 16.
At the time, the 19-year-old victim — who had been with the agency for nearly a year — was subjected to escalating harassment by coworkers while on his shift at Fire Station 21, deputies said.
The situation escalated when the victim was chased down in the parking lot by other employees, investigators added.
“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.”
[BELOW: Marion County Fire Rescue addresses employee arrests]
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.
Three of the suspects — Kenny, Day and Trauthwein — face charges of kidnapping, battery and robbery. Meanwhile, Bradley only faces charges of robbery and accessory to robbery.
“Because of the seriousness of these allegations, our responsibility goes beyond discipline,” County Commissioner Carl Zalak said. “We are committed to preventing this from happening again, upholding the highest professional standards, protecting our employees and the public, and strengthening the safeguards that help earn and keep the trust of our community.”