You may think that pruning shears can only be put to use in your garden when it comes time to trim or shape your plants. However, one Florida man is showing just how versatile the landscaping tool can be after he allegedly used it to cut down a Flock camera installed in Oviedo.
News 6 reports that the vandalism occurred last week near Arrowroot Place and Lockwood Boulevard. Unfortunately, Evan Meyer had the bad luck of focusing on the surveillance devices while Oviedo police were already keeping an eye on them after other cameras in the area had already been stolen.
To make matters worse, Meyer didn’t even manage to cut down an actual Flock camera; instead, he fell for an elaborate trap set by officers that included a decoy camera. Apparently, it looked enough like the real thing that Meyer didn’t even notice anything was amiss until officers threw on their lights and started yelling commands at the suspect.
After the arrest, Meyer allegedly explained why he decided to remove the Flock camera, citing constant surveillance as one reason. Unfortunately, his explanation wasn’t enough to avoid the arrest, and it looks like he’s now facing three felony charges.
Meyer Approached the Cameras After Midnight on Aug. 20, 2026
News 6 quoted the Oviedo Police Department affidavit, saying that officers spotted Meyer approaching the faux Flock camera at 12:57 a.m. According to the report, officers had placed a decoy camera in this location after multiple cameras were stolen from Lockwood Boulevard between July 23 and Aug. 3.
The 24-year-old was reportedly seen approaching the camera while dressed all in black, wearing a mask, gloves, and carrying a pair of pruning shears. He quickly cut the camera down and then threw it to the ground, breaking it into several pieces.
After the deed was done, Meyer allegedly ran down the sidewalk until police turned on their lights and told him to stop. He was taken into custody without incident and admitted he had taken the pruning shears from his father because he felt the cameras were a “constant eye” watching him.
Meyer Was Charged With Three Felonies
The affidavit went on to explain that Meyer was facing a total bond of $7,500 and was charged with damaging or taking a computer, electronic device, or related equipment, grand theft involving property valued between $750 and $5,000, and criminal mischief causing more than $1,000 in damage.
The fact that the Flock camera was a decoy didn’t seem to help with the charges at all, even after Meyer admitted that he didn’t know the device was a fake.
Residents Were Unhappy About the Decoy Camera
While Flock cameras remain a point of contention for many Americans who believe the surveillance tool raises security concerns, many people seem just as upset about the idea of a fake camera. That’s because many folks believe that they should’ve been notified about the decision to use the decoys, and that includes Mayor Megan Sladek.
“I am speechless,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “I spoke to the city manager, and he confirmed the City of Oviedo Police Department did, in fact, put up a fake Flock camera, then kept a close eye on it until someone came and cut it down. I do not know who paid for the decoy.”
Sladek later gave an update after speaking with the police chief, explaining that there was no cost associated with the cameras, as an officer volunteered to use their 3D printer to make them at home.
Based on the comments on the post, it doesn’t seem that fact was necessary to reassure commenters, especially since many pointed out that recent council meetings indicated the city could be doing away with Flock cameras altogether.