Milwaukee Fire Fighter Groped Female Recruit: Police

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee firefighter has been charged with second-degree sexual assault after investigators say he groped a female firefighter, stating she "still had to prove herself," in addition to repeatedly berating and harassing her while on the job.

Michael Peden faces 25 years behind bars and is being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $3,500 cash bond. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Milwaukee County, Peden was an Acting Lieutenant for the medical unit assigned to Engine 26 located at 1140 S. 26th Street, in Milwaukee. During one particular work shift in 2017, the company's fire engine was sent out, leaving only the woman and Peden at the station. The woman was upstairs cleaning the floor when Peden came upstairs. She tried to pass Peden and go downstairs, but Peden would not let her.

According to the criminal complaint, Peden remained in front of her and kept approaching, forcing her to walk back towards the wall. The woman looked at Peden and asked “what.” He responded by grabbing her hand and forcing it onto his clothed crotch area. She pulled her hand away and yelled: “stop!” He then said, “come on, you still have to prove yourself.” He grabbed the woman's crotch area and held on. She ducked under the defendant’s other arm and ran downstairs.

According to the criminal complaint, over the next few weeks, Peden would walk by the woman at the fire station, touch her buttocks, and then claim it was accidental. Those who worked with her noticed she lost 30 pounds and acted differently during the time she says she was repeatedly harassed and ultimately sexually assaulted by Peden, the complaint stated.

Investigators say that Peden's actions the day of the alleged assault was just the latest in a pattern of psychological and emotional abuse meted upon the woman over a period of months.

According to the criminal complaint, the woman graduated from the Milwaukee Fire Academy in May 2016 and was assigned to Engine 26 in June. After being assigned to Engine 26, the woman said Peden consistently made racist comments to her about African Americans and Hispanics.

According to the complaint, the Engine 26 captain learned of Peden’s conduct and addressed the entire station while the woman was responding to a fire call. When she returned, she was labeled “a snitch.” According to the complaint, the woman said Peden called her “a piece of (expletive)” at least six times per day, every day after that.

In August, she asked to be transferred, but she was told she couldn’t be transferred right away, the complaint said. According to investigators, when the woman got a bad performance review from Peden, she asked him what she was doing wrong. The complaint stated that Peden “began throwing items around the firehouse” saying it was her job to keep the firehouse clean. The woman said Peden told her she “was not strong enough to be a firefighter.” Days later, the woman said Peden continued verbally berating her. The complaint says that Peden grabbed the woman's breast while the two were in the kitchen, stating "you're a piece of (expletive)."

According to the criminal complaint, Assistant Chief Gerard Washington received three anonymous complaints about how Peden treated the woman at Engine 26 over that same time.

Image Via Milwaukee County Jail