Fla. firefighter allegedly tried to poison lieutenant

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A Fla. firefighter was arrested Tuesday for allegedly poisoning a lieutenant's canteen.

Image WFTV Firefighter Randy Moore, pictured here in an undated photo, claimed he did not want to kill Lt. Phil Jones by poisoning his canteen but was "upset over other issues and it went too far."

Titusville Firefighter-paramedic Randy Moore, 40, admitted to putting Gunk, an aerosol cleaner-degreaser, in Fire Lt. Phil Jones's canteen after a series of attempts to embarrass and antagonize him, according to Florida Today.

Other acts included putting spices in Lt. Jones's coffee, writing derogatory statements about him and tampering with his files, according to police.

Lt. Jones noticed the odd-smelling, flammable substance in a canteen stored inside a gear bag used for brush fires and then told supervisors, who called police.

Police said Firefighter Moore claimed he did not want to kill Jones but was "upset over other issues and it went too far," said the Orlando Sentinel.

Firefighter Moore is in jail without bond and suspended with pay until the fire department finishes an internal investigation. He has also been charged with aggravating stalking in the case.

Police are reviewing charges against another firefighter who allegedly watched Firefighter Moore poison the canteen.

"I'm totally in shock," Firefighter Moore's former neighbor, who asked not to be named, told WKMG. "He's a good-hearted, decent human-being. He's not a begrudging person. He's very much a joker. A silly, funny, happy guy."