A 26-year-old woman who became a volunteer firefighter after her home burned down filed a federal lawsuit Thursday claiming her instructor at the Ocean County Fire Academy bound, tortured and raped her in his home last year.
The woman, identified in court papers by her initials, told investigators that her instructor, John Syers, lured her to his Lacey Township home on Sept. 26, 2018 under the guise of showing off his new house. Syers is listed as an instructor at the academy, according to the county government website. He is also a firefighter in Elizabeth, officials said.
“While Syers was showing (her) his bedroom, he proceeded to restrain, beat, burn, sexually assault and strangle (her) over the course of 46 minutes, despite her continuous pleas for him to stop,” the woman’s attorney, Robert R. Fuggi Jr. said in a statement.
Disorderly persons charges of simple assault and lewdness filed against Syers are pending in municipal court. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has also acknowledged an ongoing investigating and the case could be transferred to Superior Court.
The lawsuit names Syers, the Ocean County Fire Academy and county freeholders as defendants in a civil rights complaint. Syers said in a brief phone interview with NJ Advance Media on Friday that he was referring all questions to his attorney, Stephen McGuckin of Toms River. The attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The woman is a volunteer with the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Department and was attending the academy for required training, according to Fuggi. The woman said she decided to become a firefighter after narrowly escaping a blaze that burned down her home in a Lavallette condominium complex in May 2017. She escaped the blaze through a window, according to court documents.
Holy crap….
Holy crap….
Why did this go Federal first and not State? Something is fishy
Why did this go Federal first and not State? Something is fishy
Bobbi Wharton because the state doesn’t care about first responders. They’re the enemy according to liberals.
Bobbi Wharton are fire academies a federal establishment? Maybe that’s why?
Maybe because she’s also suing the Freeholders?
Nearly every fuckin sexual assault case i even hear about isnt prosecuted by state or criminally at all…usually a civil case. Its all bs.
Ashley Hansen No fire academies are County run in this state, some town or city run. The Federal Fire Academy is in Emmitsburg MD
Ashley Hansen the fore academy shouldnt have anything to do with this at all. The incident happened allegedly at his residence. So I truly do not understand the legality of the issue.
Bobbi He abused his position as an instructor. You shouldn’t engage in an unprofessional relationship with your students. Why this is federal before state has me confused. I’m wondering what’s being left out.
not sure. They dated before all this
Geez I thought paid firemen make more than that
Geez I thought paid firemen make more than that
JoeBea he’s only been a oaid fireman for like 2 years according to the article. Most department take like 7 to 9 years to reach top pay
Why a year later
Thomas McMurray I’m sure it was reported a yr ago. But kept quiet very sad she had to go thru so much
She alleges it happened seven months ago… also maybe this has been in the works for months but just filed now. Maybe she was hoping to get justice through the criminal system but that didn’t happen. Rapes *generally* are widely underreported, not falsely accused…
Thomas McMurray unable to come to terms. Unable to find the courage to face him. Etc. Maybe unable to find a good attorney to take her case. Etc
Thomas McMurray I’m sure it was reported a yr ago. But kept quiet very sad she had to go thru so much
Wow ?
Jesus…
Suing the County is just money-grabbing. Now I’m on the hook to pay for what reason? If the County somehow covered it up or didn’t perform their due diligence then I understand but the article doesn’t state that, just that we (the taxpayers) are being sued for the action of a man on private property on private time.
Mike Spike too fcking bad it wasn’t that blond in your profile, then see that you’d think
WTF:This is just wrong!
Can’t we just tie and torture him ?
Maybe a broomstick to help with the other part.
Bet he’d think twice about doing it after that.
Wow
I dont understand during the academy it didnt happen there, oys a criminal case she should be sueing the defendant not the county
Lori Rowley Deaver this has as much to do with Ocean County as it does Elizabeth….nothing. Why isnt she seeing Elizabeth?
Maybe she went to the county for help and was turned away?
Go directly to jail and don’t pass go!
It sounds like bullish?e
Another mad women did not get her way there needs to be a time limit on rape if you do not report it right away then you can’t .so ridiculous.
Fabricated story. FOR SURE.
Ashley Truex. I fully agree with you , I call bullshit and always called bs from the very first day I heard about this , I know the girl and her husband , There is ALOT Of unanswered question ( please nobody jump on my shyt with rude comments , Just stating my thoughts as I know her and her husband very very very well )