A UPS driver in Lakeland, Florida, was fired and arrested last week after tampering with a hidden camera that he discovered while urinating in his truck.
Driver Bobby Ray Talavera said he was too busy to stop and find a rest room, so he went to the back of his truck to urinate in a cup — that’s when he noticed a hidden camera staring down at him.
He told officers he “felt humiliated” and believed the camera was placed in his vehicle as part of a urination sting.
As it turned out, the hidden surveillance cameras were placed in several UPS trucks from the Lakeland facility as part of a drug sting, after more than 20 packages containing drugs were stolen from their trucks this year.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the stolen packages, which were being shipped to the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, contained oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and other drugs.
Investigators said Talavera became a suspect on July 16th after the hidden cameras recorded him examining packages that looked similar to the ones shipped to the VA hospital and shaking them in order to determine what was inside.
On September 10th, they noticed that the camera’s memory card was missing after Talavera returned his vehicle to the UPS facility. The missing memory card was later found outside a convenience store.
The memory card contained footage of Talavera opening several packages, which resembled the VA shipping bags, and examining their contents.
He was arrested charged with misdemeanor theft and tampering with evidence on Wednesday, September 23rd. On Friday, he was fired by UPS.
Talavera told investigators that he simply moved the camera so it wouldn’t film him urinating. He adamantly denied removing the memory card and insisted on his innocence.
UPS refused to comment on the case, but did say they sometimes use surveillance on employees if they “believe customers’ packages are at risk.” They also said their drivers do not urinate in the trucks, as they have ample time for relieving themselves during breaks.
