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... The alleged hazing began with "grease being smeared on the victim" and escalated from there to the firefighter allegedly being beaten with a belt with his underwear pulled down and waterboarded, according to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
"In my 30 years as a firefighter, this is the most egregious thing that I've seen been reported to me," Marion County Fire Chief James Banta said during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that he was "in shock and disgusted." ...
Three Marion County Fire Rescue employees -- Edward Kenny III, 22, an EMT; Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; and Tate Trauthwein, 19 a firefighter/EMT -- have been arrested for kidnapping, robbery and battery, authorities said. A fourth -- Kaylee Bradley, 25, a paramedic -- has been arrested for robbery and principal/accessory to robbery, authorities said. It is unclear if they have attorneys at this time.
The incident occurred while the alleged victim was working a 24-hour shift at Fire Station 21 in Ocala on Nov. 16, according to the arrest affidavit.
The alleged victim told authorities that several firefighters -- including Day and Trauthwein -- initially smeared grease on him, according to the affidavit.
"The victim stated he tried not to let it bother him and did not retaliate," the arrest affidavit stated.
A Marion County Fire Rescue fire truck.
Marion County Fire Rescue
The alleged hazing escalated after the suspects tried to get the firefighter's cellphone password after they learned he had a viral TikTok video, according to the arrest affidavit. The alleged victim told authorities that Trauthwein asked him about his large Instagram following, which he attributed to a TikTok video on a dancing trend that he said was "embarrassing" and he had since deleted and no longer had, according to the affidavit.
Trauthwein is accused of then throwing the firefighter's work boots into the woods nearby, and when the firefighter went to retrieve them, he was allegedly grabbed from behind and held down by Kenny and Day, according to the affidavit.
"The victim advised initially he thought they were just playing around," the affidavit stated. "Co-defendant Trauthwein then removed the victim's belt and the victim's pants were pulled down.
The victim no longer thought they were playing around." ...