Police: Man Turned Red Light Cameras Skyward In Ronkonkoma
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was arrested Tuesday after police alleged he turned Long Island several red light cameras up to the sky so they would not catch violators.
Suffolk County police had received anonymous tips about a social media video showing a man tampering with red light cameras in Ronkonkoma, police said. A man appeared on the video using an expandable pole to push the cameras toward the sky, police said.
Police investigated and identified Stephen Ruth, 42, of Centereach, as the suspect, police said. He was arrested at his home just before 4 p.m., police said.
Ruth was accused of tampering with the camera at Ocean Avenue and the Long Island Expressway South Service Road in Ronkonkoma two different times – this past Friday and Monday, police said.
On Tuesday afternoon, police alleged Ruth tampered with two more cameras, at Hawkins Avenue and LIE South Service Road in Ronkonkoma.
Ruth was charged with four counts each of criminal tampering and obstruction of governmental administration, police said.
The cameras are maintained by Baltimore-based Affiliated Computer Services Inc.