MONTEREY COUNTY — A 40-year-old Pismo Beach man was arrested after local authorities said he intentionally damaged multiple public safety cameras in South Monterey County.
Marcus Bee is accused of vandalizing at least three Flock Safety automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, according to a press release from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office on July 28.
Detectives said their investigation determined Bee traveled to southern Monterey County and intentionally damaged multiple cameras, causing thousands of dollars in damage to public safety infrastructure in the Lockwood and Bradley communities.
Although the Sheriff’s Office said Bee intentionally damaged the ALPR cameras, his actions were captured by nearby surveillance cameras. Combined with other investigative leads, the footage enabled detectives to identify him as the suspect.
Bee was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism. Bail was set at $30,000.
The Sheriff’s Office said the cameras are used as an investigative tool to help solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons and identify suspect vehicles, adding that they are not for civil immigration enforcement or federal immigration investigations.
“This arrest sends a clear message that anyone who intentionally damages public safety equipment will be identified, arrested, and held accountable,” said Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto. “These cameras have become an invaluable investigative resource that helps us solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles and ag equipment, locate missing persons, and protect our communities. Any attempts to disable these systems will not prevent us from doing our job. In this case, the suspect’s own actions were captured on surveillance cameras, leading directly to his arrest. We will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes and seek prosecution against anyone who targets public safety infrastructure.”
