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Phoenix firefighter charged with flooding West Valley home, doing $25K in damages

Gregory Knauss was arrested in late February and faces charges in connection with the damage. Here's what police say happened.

PEORIA, Ariz. — A Phoenix firefighter has been arrested and is facing charges in connection to doing nearly $25,000 worth of damage to a home, according to the Peoria Police Department and court records.

Police said Gregory Knauss drilled holes in the roof of the home and pumped spray foam into the plumbing and drainage systems.

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Bombero de Phoenix enfrenta cargos por inundar casa en el oeste de Phoenix causando $25,000 en daños

Knauss had been accused of being romantically involved with the girlfriend of the man living in the home, and the man told Knauss's wife about it, records state.

Knauss allegedly texted the resident "I know where you live and where you work. If you don't think I will destroy your life, I don't think you know who I am" before the incident.

The home was flooded during a recent rainstorm, "as a direct result of Gregory clogging the plumbing and drainage pipes with spray foam and making large perforations in the roof," records state.

There was so much spray foam pumped into the house's plumbing that it "reached into the City of Peoria sewer system," and other adhesives stopped plumbers from being able to access the pipes.

Knauss was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with second-degree burglary, criminal damage, harassment and threatening and intimidating, according to those records. 

Knauss was with the Phoenix Fire Department for over 17 years.

This is a developing story and more details will be added as they are made available. 

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