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Marion County firefighter discusses violent 'hazing' experience
Kayne Stuart, a probationary firefighter in his first year with Marion County Fire Rescue, shared his experience of being whipped with his own belt, waterboarded and held down after other firefighters at the station tried to get his phone.
OCALA, Fla. - A 19-year-old firefighter says he was assaulted and waterboarded by coworkers during an alleged hazing incident while on duty at a Marion County fire station.
That alleged attack led to multiple arrests and has left him feeling isolated within the department.
The backstory:
Kayne Stuart, a probationary firefighter in his first year with Marion County Fire Rescue, said the incident occurred while he was filling in at Station 21 after working shifts at several other stations. Stuart said he noticed cultural differences among stations and described Station 21 as hostile.
According to Stuart and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the incident escalated after earlier acts he described as bullying, including grease being smeared on him and his belongings being thrown into the woods.
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Marion County firefighter describes alleged hazing attack
A 19-year-old firefighter says he was assaulted and waterboarded by coworkers during an alleged hazing incident while on duty at a Marion County fire station, an attack that led to multiple arrests and has left him feeling isolated within the department.
Sheriff’s deputies said three firefighters grabbed Stuart, dragged him outside, pinned him to the concrete and restrained him. Investigators said the firefighters removed his belt, pulled down his pants and whipped him, then covered his face with a towel and poured water over it, a method commonly referred to as waterboarding.
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"I was literally unable to breathe," Stuart said, describing the attack as painful and humiliating.
The sheriff’s office said the three firefighters accused of the assault were arrested. A fourth firefighter was arrested on allegations of taking Stuart’s phone. The suspects told investigators they believed the incident was joking or horseplay.
Stuart said he called out for help during the attack but was told no one was coming. He did not immediately report the incident to law enforcement, saying he feared being labeled a troublemaker within the fire service. After the arrests in November, he asked not to return to that station.
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Stuart said he now feels ostracized when working at other stations, adding that the experience has been difficult in a profession where trust among coworkers can be critical to survival.
His attorney said the situation has been confusing and damaging for a young firefighter trying to build a career, and that the county has been put on notice of potential legal action.
Despite what he described as lasting emotional and professional consequences, Stuart said he hopes to remain with the department.
"I just wish that they hadn’t done it," he said.
Stuart said he hopes speaking publicly will help prevent similar incidents in the future and lead to stronger safeguards against hazing within fire departments.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Marion County Fire Rescue, and Kayne Stuart, a probationary firefighter in his first year with MCFR.