Four firefighters have been charged for allegedly defacing a coworker's family photos, which included phallic symbols and putting a noose over one of the frames. Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the charges on Tuesday. Alejandro Sese was charged with tampering with a witness, one count of petit theft and three counts of criminal mischief. Harold Santana, Kevin Meizoso and Justin Rumbaugh were each charged with one count of criminal mischief. The charges stem from an alleged incident that occurred on September 8, 2017, when City of Miami Fire Rescue Lieutenant Robert Webster left a few family photos out in a sleeping area. Rundle said it violated a few "unwritten rules" between firefighters as to where they placed personal items. Sese shared the sleeping area with Webster and allegedly suggested that the photos should be taken from the sleeping area to draw phallic symbols on them. The family pictures were allegedly taken out of the frames, then, the firefighters drew penises on them and replaced them inside the frames. The next day, a firefighter being housed at the station in anticipation of Hurricane Irma noticed the images that were drawn on the photos. The day after that, September 10, Webster returned to his sleeping quarters and saw a noose was draped over one of the frames. Rundle explained that the investigation hasn't determined who placed the noose on the frame. An investigation was launched into who defaced Webster's property and Rundle said they discovered the firefighters met at Meizoso's house. Rundle claimed they decided truthful information should be given to investigators, but Sese requested that the men leave out the fact that he was the one who brought the photographs to the patio. Given that Webster is African-American and a noose was placed on the frame, it would be a reasonable assumption for the public to make that this was a targeted attack. However, Rundle dismissed the idea that the photographs were defaced because of Webster's race. "There was no evidence that was uncovered that Lieutenant Sese or any of the others were motivated to defame the photographs as a result of racial prejudice," Rundle said. "We do file hate crimes as all of you know it's just in this particular case there was no evidence to support that." While there isn't evidence to support hate crime charges, Webster spoke out about what the noose meant to him when he saw it. He explained that a noose to an African American is a lynching and called it a "terror tactic" used to oppress a group of people and keep them living in fear. Rundle added that there was a culture within the fire department where drawing phallic symbols on objects as a "practical joke" was a common practice. She credited Fire Chief Joseph Zahralban for taking steps to combat the "boorish" and "callous" behavior. Throughout the press conference, Rundle repeatedly mentioned the great contributions of firefighters and first responders make to the community and the public's gratitude for them. "We never want a handful, just a handful of bad actors, to in any way detract from the professionalism of our City of Miami fire department," Rundle said. "They deserve our absolute pride and joy. We're not gonna let a handful of folks … because they were involved in boorish, callous behavior, detract from what the better good of this wonderful brotherhood of these special public servants do." In November, the four firefighters who were charged were fired from their jobs, as well as, two others, identified by WSVN as Captain William Bryson and David Rivera.<doc-sep>Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Fire Fighter Lt. Robert Webster is speaking a positive message after learning 4 former firefighters he worked with are facing charges. In September of 2017, someone hung a noose around Lt. Webster’s family photo and drew phallic symbols on his pictures. “In our communities, in our workplaces, organization and government we can not allow the worst among us to be the representation of the greatness and beauty that is us,” Lt. Webster said. “The victim is not just myself and my family,” said Webster shortly after the incident. “It’s the people in the community who look like me and my family because if this is what they feel about me who wears the same uniform that they wear, how do they truly feel about these people whose homes they’re welcomed into at the time when they’re most needing someone to care for them.” Lt. Robert Webster addresses the media: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said there was not enough evidence to charge it as a hate crime. “There was also no direct testimony as to who was actually responsible for placing that noose over the photograph,” she said. Lt. Alejandro Sese is accused of witness tampering, a felony — along with petty theft and criminal mischief. Former firefighters Kevin Meizoso, Justin Rumbaugh, and Harold Santana face criminal mischief charges. All of that is for allegations of defacing the pictures with phallic symbols — something the state attorney said was common practice in the firehouse. “We have learned, been told by many, that in the fire department itself, there existed this culture, particularly in station 12 it seems, where this was a common practice drawing phallic symbols as a practical joke or display some kind of displeasure,” she said. Even though there are no hate crime charges — Lt. Webster is pleased that someone is being held responsible. “Today we are all here to say you don’t have to live as silent partners to unjust and evil,” Lt. Webster said. “Speak up and say enough and you will be heard and you will be joined by a chorus of others who have also had enough.” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle addresses the media: The fired men believe they were unjustly punished. According to documents released by the city, all of those involved admitted their part in the photo vandalism but no one admitted creating or placing the noose, city officials said. Although no one is being held responsible for the noose — Lt. Webster explains just how offensive it is. “A noose to an African American is not a hanging, a noose to an African American is a lynching,” he said. “A lynching is done fo the sole purpose of creating fear, humiliation and degrading someone, to keep them in their place remind them of where they belong.” Sese turned himself into the jail. The others were all given notices to appear in court. Lt. Alejandro Sese, and were terminated by the city for an incident in September 2017. On Wednesday afternoon, Sese’s attorney, Pablo Tamayo released the following statement: “Mr. Sese is a United States military veteran who has served his country with distinction and dedicated his life to public service. The investigations conducted by the City of Miami Fire Department and Police Department over the last 17 months specifically found that Mr. Sese had NO involvement or knowledge of a noose being placed on the desk of Lt. Robert Wester. Mr. Sese finds such a racist act reprehensible, and condemns anyone who could have done such a thing. From the onset, Mr. Sese has fully cooperated with the City of Miami’s investigations and has been nothing but open and truthful. Mr. Sese is not a racist and all of those who have known him throughout his life know that any statement to the contrary is simply false.” “Nevertheless, over the last 17 months, Mr. Sese’s name has been unfairly and publicly smeared. He welcomes the opportunity to defend himself in court against these false criminal charges filed against him, and to begin the process of restoring his outstanding reputation.”<doc-sep>
MIAMI (WSVN) - Charges have been announced against four of six City of Miami firefighters who were fired for defacing the family photos of a co-worker, including placing a noose made of twine on top of one of them. Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced Tuesday that charges have been filed against Miami firefighters Alejandro Sese, Harold Santana, Kevin Meizoso and Justin Rumbaugh. “The most important message is we’re not gonna let the bullish, callous behavior of a handful of bad actors with bad behavior spoil the reputation and the overall professionalism and high regard we hold all of our firefighters in,” Fernandez Rundle said. Former @CityofMiamiFire firefighters Lt. Alejandro Sese, Harold Santana, Kevin Meizosos, & Justin Rumbaugh have been charged in the case. Sese is charged with Tampering with a Witness, Criminal Mischief & Petit Theft. The other 3 officials are charged with Criminal Mischief. — Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) February 12, 2019 Sese has been charged with one count of tampering with a witness — a third degree felony, one count of petit theft and three counts of criminal mischief. Sese bonded out Tuesday night. “This was a common practice of drawing phallic symbols on objects as a practical joke,” Fernandez Rundle said. “There was no evidence that was uncovered that Lieutenant says he and the others were motivated to deface the photographs as a result of racial prejudice.” Santana, Meuzoso and Rumbaugh have each been charged with one count of criminal mischief, a second degree misdemeanor. City of Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Robert Webster, the victim targeted, said, “Where the violation was felt the most was once I saw the images that were out on my wife, my daughter, my grandkids. This is huge because there is no precedent for anyone ever even getting a slap on the wrist.” The men were fired from the City of Miami Fire Station No. 12 on Sep. 8 in 2017 after a noose was found hanging over a black co-worker’s family picture. Other family photos of the victim were defaced with sexually explicit drawings. “I was disgusted, and I was appalled by what I had seen,” said City of Miami Fire Chief Joseph Zahralban during a past press conference. “In our communities, in our workplaces, organizations in our government, we cannot allow the worst among us to be the representation of the greatness, and the beauty that is us,” Webster said. “And to everyone, everywhere who heard of this and said, ‘Enough,’ I hear you.” Sese’s attorney released the following statement: Mr. Sese is a United States military veteran who has served his country with distinction and dedicated his life to public service. The investigations conducted by the City of Miami Fire Department and Police Department over the last 17 months specifically found that Mr. Sese had NO involvement or knowledge of a noose being placed on the desk of Lt. Robert Wester. Mr. Sese finds such a racist act reprehensible, and condemns anyone who could have done such a thing. From the onset, Mr. Sese has fully cooperated with the City of Miami’s investigations and has been nothing but open and truthful. Mr. Sese is not a racist and all of those who have known him throughout his life know that any statement to the contrary is simply false. According to the State Attorney’s Office, the two other firefighters that were fired in relation to the racist act will not be charged due to lack of evidence against them.