Four fire and rescue employees have been arrested in connection with the alleged “violent” hazing of a firefighter at a Florida fire station, authorities said Wednesday.
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…