“Sick to my very stomach, firehouse like a frat house”: Veteran firefighters tortured rookie with belts, holds, and waterboarding terror
Florida – A 19-year-old rookie firefighter in Florida alleges that his first few days on the job turned into a horrific nightmare when other first responders allegedly beat and tortured him to get his cell phone. Fox 35 got their hands on investigative records that show the incident led to many firings, criminal charges, and a lot of disappointment from county authorities.
The alleged attack took place on November 16. The victim said that it was only his second day at the station when a group of coworkers started urging him to unlock his phone so they could see a TikTok video that was on it. The investigation papers did not offer any information regarding the video itself.
The firefighter told investigators that what started as harassment quickly turned into hours of violence at Marion County Fire Rescue’s Fire Station 21. He said that his coworkers made fun of him and ridiculed him all day. Firefighter/EMT Seth Day allegedly smeared grease on his shirt at one point, while Tate Trauthwein, a firefighter/EMT the same age as the victim, allegedly threw his boots into the woods behind the station.
Things got worse later when the victim stated he was being held against his will. He said that EMT Edward Kenny grabbed him while Day helped keep him down. Trauthwein allegedly pulled the pants off the young firefighter during the dispute. Investigators allege that paramedic Kaylee Bradley then grabbed the victim’s phone and that she and Trauthwein kept asking him for the passcode.
The rookie firefighter told police that Trauthwein hit him with a belt and Day put him in a leg hold when he refused. The victim told police that he begged them to stop over and over again, saying that he cried out in pain and begged for the attack to end. Despite this, the group allegedly continued pressing him for the phone’s access code.
The investigation report says that when the beating failed to obtain the passcode, the abuse got worse again. The victim alleged that he was waterboarded three times. Kenny allegedly retrieved the water used during the incident. The firefighter told investigators he could not breathe while water was poured over his face, leaving him terrified and struggling for air.
The young firefighter added that when the supposed attack was over, he promised his coworkers he would never come back to the station. After that, he departed Fire Station 21 and told the police about what happened. His report started both an internal and a criminal investigation.
As a result of the investigation, the local fire department fired ten employees connected to the incident. The individuals who were fired were a battalion chief, a captain, a lieutenant, firefighters, and paramedics. Four of the people that were sacked are now being charged with crimes.
Bradley, who is 25 years old, has been charged with robbery and being the main accomplice to robbery. Trauthwein, who is 19 years old, is being charged with robbery, kidnapping, and violence. Kenny, who is 22, is being charged with kidnapping, violence, and robbery. Day, who is also 22, has been arrested for robbery, kidnapping, and violence. All four have pleaded not guilty and have since posted bail.
Six more workers were fired because of the incident, although they have not been charged. County officials have not released their names.
Commissioner Carl Zalak strongly condemned the actions that were investigated. He told Fox 35 that what happened was “absolutely unacceptable.”
“What occurred is absolutely unacceptable… It makes me sick to my very stomach,” Commissioner Carl Zalak told the broadcaster. “A small group of employees treated the firehouse like a frat house.”
The incident has made many extremely concerned about hazing, accountability, and supervision in the department. Investigations remain ongoing as the criminal cases move forward, while county leaders have vowed to address the breakdown in discipline that allowed the alleged abuse to occur.
