Hidden Camera at Bronson Park Takes Suspect’s Photo

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Bronson solved a vandalism case in early April using a hidden camera at James H. Cobb Park.

The vandalism occurred on Saturday, April 9 in the afternoon when a teenage boy broke the toilet, tore a toilet paper dispenser off the wall, and punched a hole in the ceiling of the men’s bathroom.

Lt. Scott Tummond of the Levy County Sheriff’s office said a photograph of a 16-year-old Bronson High School boy taken by the hidden camera was used to crack the case.

The deputy went to Bronson Middle High School and worked with the school resource officer, also a deputy, to approach the boy and ask him about the vandalism. He admitted he damaged the bathroom.

Deputies took the boy to the home of his parents or guardians and told them what happened. A citation was issued by the sheriff’s office in front of the parent, or guardian. The boy was asked to sign it.

Tummond said the case was referred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The DJJ will handle the misdemeanor vandalism case involving about $700 damage. DJJ may require restitution.

The town did most of the detective work to identify the boy.

Town Manager Sue Beaudet downloaded about 600 photos from the camera and assigned a University of Florida intern that volunteers at Town Hall to review the photos to determine if he could find a photo that looked suspicious.

She said the intern showed her one photo where the paper dispenser near the front door was attached to the wall when the boy entered the bathroom and was missing about two minutes later when he exited the bathroom.

Tummond said the town saved the sheriff’s office quite a bit of time by having a hidden camera that photographed the bathroom and then reviewing the photos to find the suspect.

The town has seen considerable vandalism at the bathroom near the picnic area of the park, but the vandals have always done their dirty work and disappeared before anyone could identify them.

“They all think they will never get caught when they do get caught, they say, ‘Oh, there’s really consequences for doing this?” Tummond said.

Beaudet said the camera they used was a $100 model and she had to go to the park to download it. She wants to get cameras that can be hidden at the park and downloaded at Town Hall.

Prior to Beaudet arriving, the town bought security cameras for use at the park, but the town council decided they needed security in Town Hall for staff and used the cameras there.

Beaudet said she recently took down the cameras because the city was paying $200 a month to use them.