Fountain firefighter arrested, accused of sexual assault

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) -- A paramedic firefighter with the Fountain Fire Department has been charged with sexual assault following a report in September.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, investigators got a report about "a sexual assault involving a member of the Fountain Fire Department."

Detectives said there was enough evidence to arrest Dustin Vornholt, 39, for felony sexual assault along with third-degree assault. Court records indicate that the sexual assault charge includes "overcoming victim's will."

Vornholt was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday.

According to Vornholt's LinkedIn profile, he has been with Fountain FD since 2018. He worked as a volunteer firefighter in Federal Heights for several years before that.

Fountain Fire Chief James Maxon issued the following statement after the charges were announced: “We take this situation very seriously and have a responsibility to keep our department members safe. Firefighter/Paramedic Dustin Vornholt was placed on Administrative Leave as soon as this situation was brought to our attention.  We want to thank the Colorado Springs Police Department for their work, and we are cooperating with them as this investigation continues. The Fountain Fire Department has great men and women and we will continue to move forward and serve our citizens while the justice system runs its course in relation to this situation with Firefighter/Paramedic Dustin Vornholt.”

We're working on getting more information about what led to Vornholt's arrest. A mugshot hasn't been made available yet.