A firefighter in Missouri has been fired after being caught taking videos of a woman while she was tanning at a fitness club.
Staff at the Arnold Fitness Club found Kyle Polete, 20, and police arrested him.
“Apparently he’s a regular there and I’ve been told I’ve seen him around the gym or might know him but I still don’t know what his name is or what his face looks like,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
The woman told the local Fox affiliate that she was naked and in a tanning booth when she saw the man’s arm was under the door and filming inside her private room.
At that moment I was so startled I was just saying, ‘Get this out of here! Get this person out of here!’ and so I just kicked away,” she said, noting that the phone flew out into the hallway and the suspect fled.
Police later discovered Polete was a firefighter for the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District named. Cedar Hill suspended Polete immediately after a visit from investigators and the Arnold Police Department referred the case to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“He admitted taking photos and videos of me. He also claims that he deleted them,” the victim said. “So the police checked his phone and they called me and said we are pretty sure they have not been disbursed.”
The Cedar Hill Fire Protection District released the following statement regarding the incident:
The Cedar Hill Fire Protection District (“District”) was surprised and dismayed to learn of the allegations of improper and egregious conduct recently made against one of its first responders. The individual involved was immediately suspended from service when the allegations came to light, and he resigned his employment with the District during the pendency of the District’s investigation.
A thorough background check performed prior to the hiring of this individual did not reveal any concerns or past incidents of a similar nature.
The District understands the importance of maintaining the public’s confidence in the character and integrity of its first responders, and is thoroughly committed to that end. The conduct of this individual is not in keeping with the high moral and ethical standards to which the District holds its first respondents accountable.
