A Phoenix firefighter is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly vandalized a townhome in Peoria, Arizona, in what appears to quickly have turned into a costly romantic entanglement gone awry. Gregory Knauss, who serves as a fire engineer with the Phoenix Fire Department, is accused of intentionally damaging a residence to the tune of more than $25,000 during a suspected affair-fueled dispute.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, a witness reportedly caught Knauss on the roof of the building on January 23, where he's alleged to have clogged the plumbing using spray foam and wreaked havoc upon the air conditioning system. The intensity of the destruction warranted a significant sum to remediate, with repair costs soaring past the $25,000 mark.
The plot seems to have thickened with claims that Knauss was involved with the girlfriend of the townhome's resident, and the resident was poised to expose the affair to Knauss' wife. In the wake of their quarrel, Knauss purportedly took to his phone, texting the resident, "I know where you live," subsequently threatening to ruin his life.
As reported by DreaminDemon, authorities say Knauss' actions seem to backfire, as they haven't succeeded to ruin the resident's life but rather complicated his own. He now faces charges including threats, harassment, reckless damaging of a utility, felony second-degree burglary, and criminal damage. Meanwhile, his status with the fire department remains uncertain, as city officials have not yet provided comments regarding his employment following the incident.
The case against Knauss is apparently building, though as of this report, detailed outcomes of any legal proceedings have not been disclosed.
