Courthouse camera use under investigation

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala .(WALA) - A special meeting of the Baldwin County Commission was called to give the commissioners a chance to respond to a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"[We met] to respond to the subpoena to consent to any searches and provide any property deemed necessary," said commission attorney David Conner.

Conner said the subpoena was issued so that the U.S. Attorney's Office could retrieve data.

"The building is owned and operated by the commission. The cameras are owned and operated by the commission, and it was the commission that applied for the grant. The security and operation of the system is under the sheriff's department," Conner said.

Just last week it was revealed that some surveillance cameras in the three Baldwin County courthouses were capable of recording audio as well as video. That did not sit well with many, including attorneys who work in those buildings every day.

FOX10 has been told the audio capabilities have since been turned off. Some claim, including District Attorney Hallie Dixon, that only a few people knew that audio was being recorded. Conner said the same of the commission.

"I couldn't tell you how many or who knew at this time, the capabilities of the cameras. I can tell you that our office became aware of it a week ago Monday," said Conner.

Attorney David Whetstone represents Sheriff Hoss Mack, who did know about the audio recording capabilities. Whetstone said there was nothing intentional about it.

"These cameras were not installed to listen to anyone's conversation. They were put there for security of the courthouse and the people in the courthouse, and if there needs to be some changing of how they operate then that can be done," said Whetstone.

The cameras were installed in the Baldwin County courthouses earlier this year after the county received a grant from the Department of Justice.

Conner said the system is only capable of holding 31 days of data at a time, so data is deleted by the minute. Conner said what was on the system when the discovery of audio recordings was made has been turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office. That office continues to investigate the matter.