Titusville, Fla.,None — Stripped of his firefighter’s uniform, Randy Moore appeared before a Brevard County judge in a fire truck red jail jumpsuit.
The 12-year veteran of the Titusville Fire Department stood in silence and let his attorney plead to the judge to allow his release.
Read: Charging affidavit
"We only want, as we stand here, is requesting and asking for a reasonable bond so my client can get out and assist me as we defend these charges," Moore’s attorney said to the judge.
Moore's attorney said the 40-year-old had never been arrested before.
Police say the Port St. John man admitted to putting "gunk," an engine degreaser, inside Lt. Phil Johnson's wildfire canteen.
The chemical compound is clearly labeled "harmful or fatal if swallowed."
Johnson did not drink the liquid. He noticed the smell coming from the canteen.
Police said it was the latest in a series of attempts to aggravate or embarrass the supervisor over a more than two-month period
Police say other firefighters may have been involved in some form, and that the city's fire department is in the process of conducting its own internal investigation.
Moore's neighbors said they couldn't believe the accusations.
"It was kind of a shock. When they said a firefighter from Titusville I didn't think anything of it. And, when they mentioned his name, I wondered if there was two of them with that name," said a neighbor.
Moore was given an $80,000 bond on poisoning and stalking charges.
The judge said Moore can't go back to the station, nor can he have contact with Johnson.
Moore is on paid administrative leave from the fire department while a disciplinary review is underway.
Poisoning is a charge that has been on Florida's books since 1971. A Florida statute specifically addresses poisoning of food or water with the intent of causing harm, and it's punishable with up to 30 years in prison.
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