Baltimore County volunteer firefighter groped and spied on colleague, police say

A Baltimore County volunteer firefighter is accused of assaulting a colleague in their station’s bunk area, as well as spying on her in the shower, according to court documents.

Xavier Dove, a 27-year-old assigned to the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company in Randallstown, was arrested and charged Friday with second-degree assault, fourth-degree sexual contact and two counts of visually surveilling a person in a private place without consent.

He was released from detention after a bond hearing on Tuesday afternoon, according to Maryland court records. His trial is set for July 9.

Dove’s lawyer, Stephen Tully, said he is “pleased that he is released” and will focus now on prepping their defense.

The Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The woman, also a volunteer firefighter, described to police a series of unwanted interactions with Dove that she said unfolded between 4 and 8 a.m. on May 2. The Banner generally does not identify people alleging sexual abuse unless they consent to being named.

The first incident allegedly occurred in the bunk area. Charging documents say Dove entered the victim’s bed naked, groped her, tried to push aside her underwear and forcibly kissed her. She also reported feeling Dove’s genitals pressing against her.

She told police she tried to resist, asked Dove to stop and swatted his hands away before he left the bed. The encounter lasted about three to four minutes, according to court documents.

Later that morning, the woman was taking a shower at the station when she caught Dove staring at her, according to charging documents. A witness told police she saw Dove get out of his bunk bed, walk to the bathroom door and observe the woman for about two minutes.

The incidents were reported to police on May 5 by Bernard Jones, chief of the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company. In a statement Saturday, Jones said a fire company member, whom he did not name, had been removed from duty pending an investigation into “inappropriate conduct.”

Dove also works as a career firefighter in Howard County. He is currently on leave from that department, spokesperson Samantha Stanton said in an email.

Banner reporter Sara Ruberg contributed to this story.