Florida Firefighter Charged With Rape

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A firefighter with the Daytona Beach Fire Department was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexual battery of a woman after meeting her at a bar. Adam Silva, 30, was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Jail after DNA tests showed he impregnated a woman who reported to police he raped her, according to WOFL-TV.

On May 19, Silva was with a group of firefighters that went to the Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club to get a cocktail following a union meeting, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said Silva and the 20-year-old woman met and Silva offered to buy her a drink. After the woman had a disagreement with a man who brought her to the bar, Silva agreed to give her a ride back to her hotel.

Instead, he drove her to another part of town and raped her, according to WESH-TV. Officers said when she resisted, Silva threatened her saying she could "end up like Natalie Holloway."

The woman was found wandering, naked from the waist down, about 3:30 a.m., according to Channel 35. In mid-June she found out she was pregnant and had an abortion.

With DNA from the woman's aborted fetus, police were able to obtain a search warrant. In early July, Silva was forced to provide a DNA sample and he was found to be the father.

Authorities said, Silva was identified at the restaurant by video, a bartender and a credit card he used to buy drinks.

Silva was released on $10,000 bail, according to the Sentinel and he will be able to keep his job with the fire department for now. In a statement released Tuesday, Daytona Beach Fire Chief James Bland said, "The Daytona  Beach Fire Department is aware of the allegations involving Firefighter Adam Silva, Adam has been a valued member of our department since 2007. Firefighter Silva is currently utilizing personal leave and is not on duty. As the internal review has just begun, no action will take place until the appropriate time. We will not have any further comment until the review is complete."


Author:Barbara Brooks - Fire Department Network News