Aitkin County (trfnews.i234.me) – An Aitkin County man has been charged with felony criminal damage to property following an incident in which cameras were ripped from a work truck at a logging company in Jevne Township.
According to court documents, 35-year-old Justin Jeffrey Hunter of Wright, Minnesota, is accused of intentionally damaging vehicle camera equipment belonging to Nistler Kowitz Logging. The estimated value of the damaged equipment was reported at more than $2,000.
Deputies from the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office were called to investigate after company officials discovered the cameras missing from a KW Construction semi-truck assigned to Hunter. The cameras, which included microphones and panic buttons, were part of a safety system installed in each truck.
Investigators say Hunter, who had been employed with the company for about a year, had previously expressed frustration over the cameras, believing they were an invasion of privacy. On the day of the incident, Hunter reportedly arrived at work around 5:30 a.m., left the truck at a job site, and was later sent home. The cameras went offline around the same time Hunter clocked in, according to data from the company’s time-tracking system.
During interviews, Hunter denied damaging the cameras, claiming they had been removed prior to that date. Deputies, however, noted inconsistencies in his statements and reported that he appeared visibly nervous during questioning.
Hunter faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.