'Violent' Firefighter Hazing Included Leg Lock, Waterboarding: Police

What seemingly started as just. light-hearted joking among co-workers. quickly devolved into something else. entirely in Marian County, Florida. >> Like was he reacting when he was hit. like that? >> I mean, now that he was just kind of. laughing at it, like laughing it off. >> Okay. >> Now, at this point, was he still being. held down when he was getting hit? >> Uh, yeah. Okay. >> Then it felt a little bit like. relentless on him. >> The waterboarding thing, I'm sure. What. are you guys trying to get at? 10. members of a fire crew have been fired.

and [music] four of them are facing. criminal charges after a young recruit. reported serious hazing allegations. >> Cuz because I know you're hesitating um. and I know it's difficult, but at this. point I hate this saying, but it is what. it is. >> We comb through hours of interrogation. footage to piece together what may have. happened [music] at Fire Station 21 that. led to complete upheaval in that. department. and we are going to break it. down for you right now. Welcome to. Sidebar presented by Law and Crime. I'm.

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uncovered apparent hazing within that. department. We are talking allegations. about co-workers allegedly pinning. someone to the ground, taking property, pulling pants down in front of others, and even allegations of water boarding. That's right, a torture technique. reportedly happening at a fire station. in the Ocala area. And now 10 people. have been fired with four of them. arrested and facing serious charges. >> But unfortunately we are here today. because of these four fire firefighters.

who went. a little bit too far with hazing. Disappointing. Absolutely. As the son of. a firefighter myself, it is. disappointing. It's no different than. myself when a deputy does something. wrong and I have to arrest them as well. The four firefighters and the charges in. which they are facing is kidnapping, robbery, battery, and accessory. So,

Marian County officials announced the. terminations and arrests at a news. conference in November. This was just. before Thanksgiving. >> So, I can give you their names and I can. give you their years of service. So, the uh the first one would be. Kaylee. K A Y L E Bradley. B R A D L E. Y. She's a paramedic. She's 25 years old. and she's been with the department for. two years and 10 months. The second individual is Tate Troutwine.

T R A U T H W E I N. He's a firefighter. EMT. He's 19 years old and he's been. with the department for one year and. three months. The third individual is. Edward Kenny. [clears throat]. Key. He's an EMT. He's been on the job for. three years and five months and he's 22. years old. And the fourth individual, his name is Seth Day. D A Y, firefighter. EMT. He's been on the job 2 years and 9.

months and he's 22 years old. >> And in sweeping consequences, some of. that fire station's leadership were. fired as well. We have dug through hours. of interrogation footage, internal. reports, incident logs, newly released. photos to try to get to the bottom of. what exactly happened here. And that's. what we're going to do. Now, to be clear. before we start off, we have chosen not. to identify the victim to protect his. privacy given these allegations. And I. will also tell you in the interrogation. footage that was released by Marian.

County Sheriff's Office, his name is. muted as well. But here's what we do. know. We know that he was 19 years old, that he had been with fire rescue for. only a few months, floating between. different fire stations, going wherever. he was needed. But here is what he. claims happened on November 16th during. a 24-hour shift. So, we start uh. detailing the ladder and they're like. getting like a whole bunch of like dirty. grease, like like a crazy amount. And um. Quinton, the driver on the ladder,

>> um he comes up to me, asks me to come. here, and he just like wipes it all over. me. He took it off of his uh glove cuz. he had a glove on and he went to go get. it. And then he just like spread all. over my shirt. He's like, "You don't. look dirty enough." So wiped it on me. >> And one of the things that investigators. told him was that grease was wiped on. him as well, and that he was told if he. changed into a clean shirt, they would. just dirty it up again. There was also. allegedly an incident with a pizza. So,

the driver, Quinton Gaines, had. apparently thought the victim had thrown. away leftover slices instead of saving. them for another shift, allegedly got. angry, and reportedly took some of the. victim's gear and snacks and just threw. it into the woods. And then after that, uh, Tate Tate had like showed my. Instagram to like the crew and they like. saw that like I had like a decent amount. of followers and um and then Tate had. like told them how I'd like gone like uh.

popular off of like a Tik Tok. So they. were like trying to find a Tik Tok to. like see and like uh I had taken it down. and everything. It was like super cring. Um, Tate had had grabbed my phone and he. was like trying to lock me out of it and. they were asking for my password. >> Okay. So, when you say he grabbed your. phone, like explain to me like how he. got your phone. >> So, so Tate had like lifted up my legs. >> or or Seth had and then Tate had like. gone in in my pocket and like I was.

trying to fight it so like and like. turned on my side so he couldn't get. access. >> but then he just like. >> just t or Seth moved me over so he could. just grab it real quick. all his weight. down into the ground and um Seth sprints. over and grabs my legs and like he kind. of like has them under under my knees. and he like lifts me up so I I can't. really move anywhere. Um and then after. that uh Tate. takes my belt off my pants. >> Mhm. And um he he starts whipping me in.

my front and then after that uh Kenny. like kind of rolls over to the side a. little bit and um Seth grabs and like. kind of curls my legs so I'm over on my. side more. Uh after that I tried to. fight Kenny and grab my [snorts] like. just like fight away from his grip so I. could pull out um and then he like kind. of just like held me tighter and then. kind of grab my arms and then every. every time I would like try to fight um. uh Seth would like kind of like I don't. know how to explain it. He would like. put weight on my on the front of my.

legs. So he kind of had him like this. and would push down so it would like. hurt my back. At this point I I thought. like they were just playing around like. I didn't think it was like but once he. took the belt off and then I was like I. was like okay like uh like we need to. chill and stop. Um and then once they. unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down. then I was like trying to actually like. fight and get out. >> Okay. >> Um Tate had had grabbed my phone and he. was like trying to lock me out of it and. they were asking for my password. Okay. So, when you say he grabbed your. phone, like explain to me like how he.

got your phone. >> So, so Tate had like lifted up my legs. or or Seth had and then Tate had like. gone in in my pocket and like I was. trying to fight it so like and like. turned on my side so he couldn't get. access but then he just like. >> just t or Seth moved me over so he could. just grab it real quick. So then they. undid my pants and then after that he. kept whipping me and then um Kaye. started she I I guess she like put my. phone away for a second and started. taking pictures off her phone. >> Okay. >> And then um after that they told Kaye to.

look away and but you know she didn't. she just went like kind of like this. >> Mhm. >> And then um he pulled my boxers down and. slapped me with the belt. >> Okay. So they they completely removed. your clothing. Yes sir. >> Okay. So they completely removed your. clothing and then who was still hitting. you with the ball? Okay. And at that. point, Kaylee still had your phone, at. least as far as you knew. >> Okay. And it was still Seth and Kenny. that were holding you down. Yes, sir. >> Did Tweety, Tyler, did anybody else come. out? Nobody said anything. Okay. >> Was laughing. Carter. >> So, it is at this point that the victim.

claims the group dragged him across the. concrete to another area outside the. fire station. And that is when he claims. that he was waterboarded. And you're. going to hear some names here. Seth, Kenny, Tate. Take a listen. Are they are. they saying anything else at this point? Are they telling you anything? >> At this point, they're just laughing. >> Okay. Um they're not like. I guess they're they're not like, you. know, still asking about the passcode or. anything like that. Like. >> they had still been asking about the. passcode at the time he was dragging me.

Okay. >> I was like I was like ow ow. I was like. this really hurts. And I was like stop. And he was like he's like what's the. passcode? What's the passcode? >> And so then he that's when they pulled. out the um the towel and the the. pitcher. >> Okay. All right. What happened after that? Um, after that I couldn't breathe for a. little bit and then I was and then they. took it off after it it wasn't that. long, but um we we ended up getting a. call so I I had to go. I threw on a.

different shirt cuz it was covered in. mud from the water. And then um we ran. that call, me and Tyler. And when we were on the. way back from it, he asked me why I. didn't just give him the passcode. He. said like I didn't have to go through. that if I'd given him a passcode. >> Now from there the victim claims that. after he returned from the call out, everybody was asleep. And when they woke. up the next morning, he said no one. talked about it, but that it was Tate. and Seth who told him a supervisor.

wanted to talk. >> They pulled me to the side. They had. told me that Lieutenant Bowers wanted to. speak with me and. >> Okay. >> They I they they kind of just asked me. not to like say anything to them cuz. they didn't want to get in trouble. >> Okay. So tell me what you mean by that. Tell me more about that. >> They were like they were like Lieutenant. Bowers wants to talk to you. He's like. we just want to make sure you're okay. from what happened yesterday and that. you're you're not like hurt or anything. and you you don't want to like snitch on. us. >> By the way, we also got our hands on a. few photos of the victim's apparent. injuries. So showing where he was. allegedly hit with the belt, dragged.

across the ground. Investigators, they. also released a short video clip, by the. way, which seemingly shows the victim. pinned down. >> It was great. It was so nice. >> I don't want my merch anymore. >> Yeah. In that 4 secondond video, the. 19-year-old appears to yell, "I don't. want my merch anymore." Referring to his. official gear that references Station. 21. So, what happens? Well, soon. detectives then question the suspects. Tate, Kenny, Seth, Kaye, they're getting. the stories about what exactly happened. here, what went down. So, one of the.

first people that detectives spoke with. was Kaye Bradley, and she apparently. provided her phone to investigators, you. know, seemingly to extract photos and. videos. She was read rights at the. beginning of the interview. The. detectives told her she wasn't under. arrest. And Kaye apparently revealed. several key details in this case, including what she seemingly called kind. of roughousing that was happening all. the time. So, in a way, she arguably. thought nothing of it when her.

co-workers allegedly chased this rookie. down, pinned him on the ground. Although, I will say it kind of seemed. like later on she thought or she said. she was uncomfortable. So, it's a little. confusing here. little wishwashy, but. she was chatty. She seemed to be chatty. with investigators. I will tell you. this, the next time she comes in for an. interview, her demeanor was seemingly. very different.

I just think how you detect here in just. a minute. >> Okay.

And after a few minutes, deputies move. Bradley into the interrogation room with. the couch that she was in previously, making room for her coworker, Edward. Eddie Kenny III, to wait for his own. interview. And these four suspects spent. what seemed to be hours alone in these. interrogation rooms, often seen with. their heads in their hands, pacing. around the room, waiting for someone to. come to talk to them. And all four were. read their Miranda rightites. All four.

initially agreed to speak with the. detectives. Now, we heard from the. victim himself explaining to the police. what he claims happened. But what I want. to explore is how the different suspects. responded to investigators questions. about those parts of the story. So, when. asked about what kickstarted this, you. know, roughousing, Kaye brought up new. information about how she came into. contact with the victim's phone. There. were like almost like the entire station. earlier in the night was um sitting at a. table um.

was like making a joke about um. like how he had this Tik Tok go viral um. and it was like sort of like like a 2016. like thirst trap. >> Um we tried for like a long time. We. were like show us the Tik Tok. Um he. ended up saying no like he deleted his. TikTok like it's not there anymore. or. he doesn't have it. Um, we started. talking about something else.

Um, and then I want to say like probably. like 30 or 45 minutes had gone by. We. were still at the table. Um, and was. like, "Dude, what the is this guy. talking about?" And I was like, "What?". Like um, like what do you mean? Uh cuz. he just like sometimes randomly just. says things and we're like about what? Um, and then he gave me his phone. and he was showing me like these group. messages about like another firefighter.

that was having sex with like a girl at. the station or something like that. >> That was who showed you that? >> Gave me his phone to show me the text. messages originally. >> Um, and then I believe it was Seth who. took the phone from my hands and then. that's kind of like where it all. started. Um, >> so like and if I interrupt you and like. you you're losing your train of thought. No, it's okay. Just tell me to be quiet. and I'll go back and listen. >> Like very panicked. So I'm so sorry if. I'm like and if like you need to take a. moment or whatever, you don't need.

>> We brought in some waters for you too. Like we don't want you to feel like. pressured at all. Like we said, you're. not under arrest. We're not treat you. like a criminal or anything. >> Um, >> so he didn't want Seth to have the phone. and is that you said that's where it. kind of like all started. That's kind of. what I I got from what you were saying. So, like Seth took the phone and then. started running after him, I believe, and they were running around the. station. Um, and then that's when Kenny.

and Tate got involved. Like, they. started running around, too. >> Mhm. >> Um, I had walked around the building. because Seth was running and then we. heard Tate say, "Um, we got him." And then we came around the. corner and Tate and Kenny had him. restrained. >> Okay. >> Um but like I want to like like preface. it for me like this is something that. happens like every day. >> like like they're just messing around.

>> And so like participated in like. roughousing with Kenny and Tate and Seth. before, so I didn't really think that. anything was going on. >> And here's what Tate Trotwin had to say. Was anything brought up about Instagram, Tik Tok, anything like that? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Tell me more about that. >> It was uh we brought up he was talking. about some girl he was talking to and. then we saw his Instagram. >> and he had like 45,000 followers. Like.

what do you have that many followers. for? We're all just messing around. talking about. >> Sure. Yeah. >> And he's like, I know your famous Tik. Tok. It blew up and when we wanted to. see his Tik Tok, we'd ask about it. >> Okay. Um, did he did he share that with. you? >> Did no. >> Okay. Um, uh, how did you all react to. that? >> React to whatever we I'm sure you guys. been told. We took his phone and we're. like kind of playing keep away as a. sense. >> Okay. >> And despite what this alleged victim. apparently told detectives, Kaye. insisted that the victim's phone didn't.

get taken away from him as he lay on the. ground. >> We we were under the impression that his. phone was taken when he was being held. down. Is that not what happened? >> That's not what happened. Okay. So, his. phone was already in somebody else's. possession. >> So, yeah, he handed me the phone to show. me a conversation about the firefighters. having sex at station or something. >> And then that's when Seth took the phone. from my hands. >> And according to Tate, they may have. gotten a little rowdy, a little rough. But according to him, everybody was. having a good time. >> Now, what what was what was dealing at.

this point? >> Laughing. Well, that's why like. I agree what we did got out of hand. >> with 100% of hand. >> but the whole time he was laughing and. me roughing all day like back and forth. wrestling we wrestled earlier and got up. and laughed about it and. >> yeah like no issue. >> all day like that. >> Okay. So um tell me more about what you. mean like you think it got out of hand. like tell me more about that. >> Probably mostly how long it went on. >> Okay. and hitting with a belt was.

probably uncalled for. But like thing. I'd like to say to make me known. personally is like that's the kind of. behavior that like like stuff like. that's happened to me before. >> Okay. Like specifically at that location. >> at that like I work. >> Yeah. Like station 21. >> That's that's where I'm at. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um stuff like in that similar or. the same kind of things happen to me. before. So when it's happening kind of.

I'm like that's the culture I've been. shown. >> I gota. >> throughout when I started here. throughout well the past seven months. I've been at 21. >> Okay. >> So like that that kind of stuff has. happened to me before. >> Yeah. You heard Tate say it happened to. me before. We're going to get to that in. just a second. But something that all. four suspects seem to agree upon was. that the alleged victim's underwear was. never removed. So here's Seth. >> So what happens after you take the belt. off? I I don't remember.

>> Okay. >> Does his pants get pulled down at all? >> Not intentionally, to my knowledge. I do. know there's a little bit of underwear. showing, but Okay. >> Does underwear get pulled down at all? >> Not to my knowledge. No. >> And here's what Annie Kenny had to say. >> Are you sure his underwear doesn't get. pulled down at all? >> No, his underwear does not. >> Okay. And if you remember, and only. because um you know, I can't remember. right now. How did do do his pants come. off? Were they pulled off or was it just.

because of the belt? >> How are they like. >> Yeah, like how they fall down. essentially? >> Cuz he said that the pants were slipping. down, but uh. I'm not sure. Was it just like his. movements that were causing the pants to. fall down or was Okay. So he So then he. was like squirting a little bit then. while this was going on. >> Okay. >> And Kaylee and Tate, they were.

questioned about it too. >> Now I know you had mentioned it gotten. out of hand, but um do you remember his. pants coming down at any point or um. like I get that he's laughing the whole. time and you guys are joking around with. him. Um like did that ever occur? Like. were his pants fell? I mean I get his. belt still on there. Yeah, his belt. wasn't on. I believe when it reset the. hold of his legs. Maybe it came down. some. We never like grabbed his pants. and yanked him down, but like I believe. they probably fell. >> Okay. So, >> do you remember? >> Yeah. Do you remember if his underwear? >> No. Never.

>> Do you know if they actually did pull. his pants all the way down? >> Um I only ever remember them pulling it. down to like expose his underwear. region. I never saw like skin or. anything like that. >> Okay. Cuz you know, obviously we've. spoken with other people. We're under. the impression that it did get pulled. all the way down. But you didn't see. that? >> I didn't see that. But I was also. talking to Horton inside of the bay. >> Okay. This brings us to the most. egregious accusation. >> that this alleged victim was held down,

that his face was covered in a towel, and that water was poured onto his head. Waterboarding. The alleged victim claims. that water was poured over him three. times, but the suspect seemed to say if. anything, no, there were just little. droplets. >> Um, I know you mentioned. uh something about, you know, some sort. of some water being brought out. What. exactly happened with the water or do. you know who even brought it out? >> I don't I don't know who brought it out. Um,

I do remember they're not them not using. it cuz I told them not to. Um, or there may have been a few drops like. as it went over his head, but nothing. they had poured. Um, and besides that, I pretty sure shortly. after he caught his call. >> Okay. Do you know and who is they. pouring the water even? >> I don't I don't remember all honesty. I. mean, there's only so many of you at the. station. Are you sure you don't.

remember? >> I I I don't remember. >> Do you remember what was used to pull. the water over? >> I mean, it was like we have pitcher. plastic pitchers kind of used to make. coffee. >> Okay. Does it have like a top? >> No. >> Okay. So, how and [clears throat]. and if I'm, you know, kind of leading. you in the wrong direction, you're just. letting me know, but how would one, you. know, dribble a little bit of water from. something that has an open top, if that. makes sense. So, it's kind of come out. in a, you know, stay string with them. >> I.

Well, sorry. >> You're fine. >> Um, I believe it was like moved over and. then believe it was full, but I don't. know off the top of my head. >> Okay. You don't know off the top of your. head. >> Uh, this picture, did you actually watch. them pour it on them? >> No, I did not. >> Okay. Um, would it be fair to say that. that happened? >> Um, I'm not sure after the fact. So, I. was not watching at this point because I. thought that it had went too far. So, what caused it to stop? >> Um, I believe that got a call.

>> So, how how does this all come to an. end? >> I think after we pull the towel off, we're like, "All right, it's enough.". Like, get up. And then after that, I. mean, me and talk like wrestling night. like we were just like hanging out. wrestling cuz me I since fire school, >> okay? >> Like we're pretty we were friends. We. talked about fire school and all that. So, me and him talk wrestling night. We. wake up the next day and me and Seth. even were like, "Maybe you went too far. last night to go talk to him." And me. and Seth had asked him the next morning,

like, "Hey, are you good?" Like, for. real, are you like, "You're not hurt, nothing." He's like, "No, no, I'm good.". >> But here's the thing. Seemingly, according to the suspects that were. interviewed, hazing hazing behavior was. just part of the culture at Station 21. >> From a personal instance of something. that's happened, I've been held down by. four guys in the station. I've had my. pants pulled down in the same instance. >> Okay. >> And. Den messed with. >> Gotcha. >> Um, but I mean,

>> but in this particular instance, you. don't remember his pants coming down? >> No. >> At what point, you know, did did Tate. and Seth ever seem like, you know, they. were almost becoming like malicious with. it? Like where they were appearing like, I guess, hateful? >> No, I don't think so. So, like I I was. talking to um my boyfriend and I know. like I'm not supposed to talk about. this. I just am going insane over this. >> I just feel like.

Tate, even even Kenny. So, like Kenny just. wants to fit in. >> and Kenny has only been here for a. month. Kenny sees take get waterboarded. a week ago and then I think that he. thought that it would be funny to like. bring it out and then Seth actually like. put the towel on his face. Um. like I I think that they just thought. that they were being funny. >> because it's happened to them.

>> So did you see the thing that happened. with Tate about a week ago where he also. got waterboarded or did you just hear. about it? >> I did. >> You did see it? Everybody saw that at. the station. >> Was it like, you know, as it happened to. Kane? Did they put the towel over his. face and pour the water onto his head or. was it just like, you know, spraying him. down? I mean, how did that What happened. with that? >> I didn't really like the towel like. getting put over his head. >> Yeah. No, I mean with Tate. >> Okay. Um, with with Tate. Yeah. Like the.

towel got put over his head and um they. poured like a whole jug of water on him. >> Okay. Um, [clears throat]. and I think everybody was there for that. and then I was told not to record it. >> Okay. Who told you that? >> Um, I think it was. Manny. It might have been Manny or or Quinn. Quinton Gains. >> Okay. Okay. I mean, at this at this.

point, we talked to everybody. Yeah, we. talked to everybody and everyone's. already gave us their involvement and. you know has been upfront with us about. what happens. >> So we. [clears throat]. >> So the water boarding thing I'm sure is. what you guys trying to get at. >> Well, so did some So I guess my question. is is I know you're bringing up the. water boarding, but did was this did. somebody like mention this and say like. water boarding or like it's time to do. water boarding or anything like that? >> Nothing. Well, it had been joke because. like I said, this kind of stuff has been.

happening to me. >> Okay. >> So, it did happen to me. So, it's kind. of a joke. It was like a joke. We He. never actually got waterboarded. >> Okay. >> What happened? We were sitting there. playing around. Seth had him by his. knees. We were just kind of sitting. there. >> Kenny walked in and came back out with a. picture of water and a towel. >> Okay. >> And it was like, "Oh, I'm going to. waterboard him.". >> Okay. >> And all that happened was the towel got. put over his face and that was it. >> Okay. Nobody actually poured the water. onto the. >> I don't believe any water. >> Okay. >> Cuz we had heard different. We had heard.

water got did got poured on. >> It didn't didn't sound like it was very. much maybe. But. >> um like did he did Kenny come up with. like a full picture of water? >> Yeah. I mean it was still full. afterwards. So I don't I wasn't really. watching that. I wasn't a part of that. And according to Kaye, she had. previously been told to delete any. photos or videos of the roughousing and. pranks and was allegedly told by her. supervisors not to talk about the. incident with the 19-year-old. >> I was pulled in the next shift in the.

morning and um they said that they heard. that there was videos of it and that. there needed to not be any videos or. photos of it anymore. Um, >> and is that relating to all uh. roughousing or only the incident that. happened on Sunday? >> Um, they already had like established that. they don't want any videos or photos of. roughousing. >> and whose day they. >> uh like Quinton and Vic. >> Okay. Okay. So, Quinton Gaines and the. captain said make sure you delete.

everything regarding the incident that. occurred on Sunday. >> Yes. >> Did he specify that it was Sunday or did. he like what did he say? I don't want to. put words in his mouth. You were there. You know what I mean? So. >> I think like he said something along the. lines of like the incident. >> Okay. And that when you heard that that. was Sunday. >> Sorry. Was that the 16th? >> Correct. >> Yes. The 16th. >> Eventually both Kenny and Kaye asked for. lawyers. >> Sorry.

I'm sorry. I'd rather have a lawyer. >> Okay, that's okay. Um, before we uh step. out or anything like that, is there. anything else you want to tell us? >> No, just two stress. >> Okay. Is there anything you need water? >> Okay. All right. Just if you need. anything, just. >> Yeah.

Do you want a water or coffee or. anything? I need a lawyer. >> It's entirely up to you, ma'am. You. know, I don't. I don't know what to do. >> So, after hours of being at the. sheriff's office, it seems to be dawning. on the suspects that they are in a lot. of trouble right now. Hey, can I ask.

some charges one more time? >> Robbery, kidnapping, and simple battery. It's a second degree felony, first. degree felony, and I think it's second. degree misdemeanor. >> So, what happens after their interviews. on November 26, all four suspects were. put into handcuffs. They were taken to. jail. They actually bonded out. Kenny. bonded out seemingly earlier than the. rest. But according to Marian County. court records, the defendants posted a. percentage of their bond. They were. released. Now, Kaye was charged with.

robbery and principal to robbery for. allegedly keeping the victim's phone. away from him. Seth, Kenny, Tate, they. were all charged with robbery, battery, kidnapping. All four are expected in. court for arraignment on January 27th. Now, in addition to those four being. fired and facing charges, six other. people who worked at Fire Station 21. either had their employment terminated. or they quit before it could happen. and. that included station leadership. Investigative reports by the Marian.

County Board of County Commissioners. that was released in December gives us. an idea of why they were let go. For. example, here's what the report on. Captain Victor Payet says. Quote, "Captain Payet became aware of the. incident on or about November 19th, 2025. At that time, he possessed. information indicating that a serious. incident involving a firefighter had. occurred and that conduct could be. criminal in nature. Despite this. awareness, Captain Pay did not.

immediately initiate formal. administrative reporting or notify human. resources. Captain Pay discussed the. matter with Battalion Chief Clint Balac. During the period following the. awareness of the incident, Captain Payet. did not take steps to ensure formal. escalation or preservation of evidence. and engaged in informal handling of the. matter at the station level. During this. period, Captain Pay directed at least. one member to delete photographs or. video related to the incident, which. resulted in permanent loss of evidence. Captain Payet subsequently communicated.

to Battalion Chief Ballick that the. incident could involve criminal conduct. However, when later interviewed by law. enforcement, Captain Pay did not provide. the same information he had shared with. Battalion Chief Ballick. His law. enforcement testimony omitted material. information regarding the seriousness of. the assault, his knowledge of the. incident, his knowledge of picture and. video, and his actions after becoming. aware of it. And yes, Battalion Chief. Ballick was also let go. During a.

December news conference, you had the. Marian County Sheriff, a county. commissioner, the fire rescue chief. They all expressed their extreme. disappointment in this whole situation. Today, I want to address the arrest and. termination of four first responders. from our department. Their actions, now. the subject of serious felony charges, represent a disturbing violation of. everything that this profession stands. for. What occurred was unacceptable,

inexcusable, and fundamentally contrary. to the core values of our fire. department. Let me be absolutely clear. These individuals involved in this. incident forfeited their right to wear. the uniform the moment they chose an act. and manner that endangered, harmed, and. betrayed a fellow firefighter. Their. behavior does not reflect who we are and. what we stand for. to our community. I know this news is upsetting. I know it.

may cause some to question their trust. in the department. But I ask you to remember that we have. more than 800 firefighters who come to. work every day with one mission. Saving. lives, protecting property, and. protecting this community. They respond at all hours, in all. conditions, and in most dangerous. situations in imaginable. The misconduct of a few should not. overshadow the honor, commitment, and. sacrifice of the many. >> Marian County has zero tolerance for.

employees who batter and betray the. trust of the people they serve. Zero. tolerance for those who put their own. impulses above their responsibilities. Zero tolerance for behavior that de. demeanes the good men and women who. serve honorably every single day, every. single call, every single shift. In my. 30 years as a firefighter, um this is. the most egregious thing that I've seen. been reported to me. And as fire chief, um I was uh in shock and disgusted at.

the actions that um I that was reported. to me. >> So where do we go from here? Well, we're. going to continue to monitor this case, see if there's any further fallout. But. I got to end on this, okay? Despite. everything you have just heard, according to fire chief James Bant, the. alleged victim in this case has come. back to work. wants to continue his. career as a firefighter, saying that. this 19-year-old told him, quote, "I. have a job to do and I need to do that. job." That's all we have for you right.

now here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank. you so much for joining us. And as. always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you. should get your podcast. You can follow. me on Hex or Instagram. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next time.