Fire medic accused of exposing himself and more in front of female coworker

Tampa, Florida -- There are more problems in the Hillsborough County Fire Department. Two weeks ago we told you about seven firefighters who were disciplined when a prank went too far and may have become a criminal matter. [Full Story]

Now there are allegations of sexual abuse by one firefighter against a female co-worker.

According to a memo obtained by 10 Connects News, personnel Chief Newell Branam tells Fire Chief Bill Nesmith about allegations of fire medic Julio Colon exposing himself to a female co-worker.

The memo dated September 25 says the incident happened at 11 p.m. in March at Fire Station 40, which is located at 16304 Nebraska Avenue in Tampa.

The female firefighter, who is not identified, says she was in her bunk with the curtain closed when Colon opened the curtain, turned on the light and was standing there naked. She yelled at him and put her head under the covers, telling him it was not funny and to leave her alone.

The memo goes on to say after a few minutes as she was falling asleep, the curtain opened again , and when she turned on the light again he was completely naked at the head of her bed. She said he had an erection, was masturbating and ejaculated onto her bedding next to her pillow.

The firefighter says she got up and punched him and made him get out. She yelled at him and told him that was inappropriate as she stripped her bed and went for new sheets.

He said he was sorry and he was just joking around; he thought she was someone that he "could joke around with."

Colon is the same man who was arrested in Brooksville last month and accused of exposing himself to female pedestrians in Hernando County. [Full Story]

Investigators say they have connected Colon to two separate incidents where he got out of his car while naked, once confronting a 41-year-old woman and the other time a 16-year-old girl. One of the incidents happened outside Challenger K-8 School.

According to investigators, Colon admitted he gets a rush exposing himself and that he has done the same thing in other locations in both Hernando and Hillsborough County.

When Hillsborough Fire Rescue found out about the incident, it first suspended Colon with pay, but after five days it was changed to suspended without pay. He is in the process of being fired.

This is the third disturbing incident that we have uncovered at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue within the year. In December our investigation found Fire Personnel visiting adult web sites while on duty at the fire stations.

Hillsborough Commissioner Kevin Beckner says the agency has to address the problems and cannot allow this type of behavior.

Fire Rescue spokesperson Ray Yeakley says in each of the incidents, Chief Bill Nesmith has taken quick action to address the issues. Yeakley adds the department has more than a thousand employees and some are going to use bad judgment and inappropriate behavior.

The Department is still investigating the incident at Station 40 and cannot comment on it.