So what exactly did Republican candidate for Marion County Commissioner Jason Schaber say during the April 7th commissioner candidate forum that drew the ire of Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles? Here’s the question that came from an audience member: “Can you describe a specific time that you managed a budget exceeding $10 million and how […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Forget about Flock! Marion area law enforcement has been using high tech spy drones since 2023! With all the recent discussion about Marion’s use of Flock surveillance cameras, let’s not forget that around the same time that both Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles and Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald were installing 34 cameras throughout the […]
Written by marionwatch-investigates
Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles has publicly declared his opposition to the proposed US 23/I-71 connector project, warning that the new highway could jeopardize public safety and severely disrupt the lives of local property owners. In an open letter shared on the department’s Facebook page, Sheriff Bayles stated he stands with residents opposing the potential […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Marion County currently has 34 Flock surveillance cameras, with approximately 20, according to a 2023 report, located within the city of Marion. Here’s a map of Marion County that shows the known locations of half of the fixed situs Flock cameras located in the county. Every time a vehicle passes by one of these cameras, […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Following Monday night’s contentious city council committee meeting, Major B.J. Gruber, the Operations Commander for the Marion Police Department, issued the attached statement in which he denied the allegation that the city’s Flock surveillance cameras were used to track protestors attending the “No Kings” rallies held in downtown Marion on June 14th and October 18th, […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
During last night’s Marion City Council committee meetings, the guest speaker was a representative of Flock Safety, the company that supplies the city and county’s 34 license plate surveillance cameras that have been in place since 2023. The contract with Flock will be expiring this year and with both the city and county facing substantial […]
Written by marionwatch-investigates
The case of 80‑year‑old Esther Fuson has moved into its final chapter, bringing long‑awaited clarity to one of Marion County’s most disturbing elder‑neglect investigations. After months of evidence gathering, medical findings, and public outrage, prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from the two people responsible for her care — her son, James Fuson, and his wife, […]
Written by marionwatch-investigates
Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles issued a scathing public statement this week, defending his office’s investigation into Brendan Damron and accusing the defense of attempting to “victim blame” through social media and the press. Background: The Arrest of Brendan Damron Brendan Damron, 24, a former officer with the Marion Police Department, was arrested in February […]