Kenasia Guilford faces four felony charges after police alleged she restrained a fellow firefighter and later entered his home.
TOLEDO, OH — A Toledo firefighter is facing four felony charges after police accused her of refusing to release a fellow firefighter from handcuffs, taking his cellphone and vehicle and later entering his home, according to court records and local authorities.
Kenasia Guilford, 33, is charged with abduction, theft of a motor vehicle, theft and burglary. Toledo Fire and Rescue Department officials confirmed Guilford is a firefighter and licensed emergency medical technician. The alleged victim is also a firefighter and is a captain with the department, a department spokesperson confirmed to local media.
Police affidavits say the events began Sept. 22 at a home in the 3600 block of Garrison in West Toledo. According to the records, Guilford handcuffed the man to a staircase with his consent but later refused to remove the handcuffs. Authorities allege the man became concerned for his safety and eventually broke free while he was still handcuffed.
Investigators allege Guilford then took the man’s cellphone, car keys and house keys. Police said she took his vehicle and left it at another location. She is also accused of using a house key to enter the man’s home without permission. Officers later found Guilford inside an upstairs bedroom, according to court records and police accounts reported by local news outlets.
Guilford’s attorney told the court that Guilford and the alleged victim had been in a relationship and said the events began as a consensual encounter before escalating after Guilford learned information that upset her. The attorney argued that Guilford was not a danger to the community and said she had no prior criminal record. The allegations against Guilford have not been proven in court.
Guilford appeared in court Monday after being arrested Friday, three days after the alleged events. A judge set her bail at $10,000 and ordered her to have no contact with the alleged victim. The judge also ordered Guilford to wear a GPS ankle monitor while the criminal case is pending, citing concerns about the alleged victim’s safety.
The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department declined to comment to 13 Action News about Guilford’s employment status. Guilford also works as a registered nurse at the Lucas County Jail and was placed on administrative leave Friday, according to the station. No additional employment action by the fire department had been publicly confirmed in the reports reviewed.
The timing of Guilford’s arrest has also left an unresolved question in the case. The alleged incidents occurred Tuesday, but she was not arrested and booked until Friday. As of the latest reporting, Toledo police had not publicly explained the delay between the initial incident and her arrest.
The case remains pending, and the charges are allegations rather than findings of guilt. Guilford is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 14, when the criminal case is expected to continue in Toledo Municipal Court.
Author note: Last updated September 29, 2026.