By Associated Press
Moulton, AL – Lawrence County commissioners placed two employees on leave amid allegations they were responsible for a hidden camera that was found inside a courthouse meeting room.
Commissioner Alma Whitlow said county administrators Linda Harville and Karen Harrison didn't deny placing a hidden monitoring system in the commission office without members' knowledge.
The panel voted to put both on leave during a meeting yesterday. They also voted to change the locks on the commission building and turn over control of commission computers to Sheriff Gene Mitchell.
Commissioner Harold LouAllen asked that the sheriff check a courthouse annex for other monitoring devices. That is part of an effort to make a ``fresh start'' after the FBI seized an apparent bugging system September 13th.
Agents who searched the building took a clock radio that contained a hidden camera from a meeting room and other equipment from Harrison's office. The gear was purchased from the Alabama Spy Shop, which sells surveillance equipment in Madison.
The motive behind the bugging was unclear.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)