OVIEDO, Fla. — An Oviedo man is accused of destroying a police “bait” camera after telling officers that nearby surveillance cameras made him feel as though there was a “constant eye” on him.
Oviedo police arrested 24-year-old Evan Meyer shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday near Lockwood Boulevard and Arrowroot Place.
According to an arrest affidavit, several Flock Safety cameras were stolen from the Lockwood Boulevard corridor between July 23 and Aug. 3. Police responded by installing replica cameras that resembled the real devices but did not collect data.
Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said in a Facebook post Friday that City Manager Bryan Cobb confirmed the police department installed the decoy and monitored it until someone cut it down.
“I do not know who paid for the decoy,” Sladek wrote. “As soon as I know more, I will share it with you. Transparency is so important.”
The bait cameras were installed around 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Less than three hours later, a sergeant reported seeing a tall man dressed in black and wearing gloves and a face covering approach one of the cameras with pruning shears.
The man knocked the camera from its pole and smashed it against the ground, causing it to break into several pieces, investigators said.
Police said the man ran north along Lockwood Boulevard but stopped when the sergeant activated his emergency lights and ordered him to stop. Officers identified him as Meyer.
After being read his rights, Meyer allegedly told investigators that he was uncomfortable with a Flock camera near his street and had heard negative information online about the company and the use of its cameras.
The affidavit says Meyer admitted taking his father’s pruning shears from the garage and walking down the street to destroy the camera. He allegedly said the tool was only intended to damage the camera and was not meant to be used as a weapon against officers.
Police said Meyer did not know the device was a replica incapable of collecting license plate data.
Meyer faces charges of grand theft, criminal mischief causing at least $1,000 in damage and damaging computer or electronic equipment. His total bond was set at $7,500.
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