West Melbourne skate park supervisor charged with possession of child porn
A skate park supervisor for the city of West Melbourne was arrested Friday on multiple accounts of child pornography possession, the sheriff's office said.
Daniel Hatcher, 62, of 761 Campina Ave. in Palm Bay, was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, according to a Facebook post from Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
The investigation began after the sheriff's office received a tip that Hatcher was transmitting child pornography. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies searched Hatcher's home and found multiple devices with images and "movie files" of child pornography, Ivey said.
Hatcher was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and placed under arrest Thursday. He was being held Saturday at the Brevard County Jail on $175,000 bail.
Not credible, but 'disruptive': At least 5 Brevard schools get threats of violence in past week, school board says
Dramatic rescue: 4 police officers from Palm Bay, West Melbourne treated for smoke inhalation after rescuing driver from burning car
The West Melbourne Police Department posted to its Facebook page that the city had suspended Hatcher on Friday morning without pay, ordered him to stay off city property and shut off his access to city facilities until the city could conduct an administrative investigation.
City officials said before Thursday evening, they were not aware of "any allegations of this nature" and that they are working to provide the sheriff's office with additional information.
The Facebook post added that Hatcher was hired Aug. 13, 2018, to "work the operations of the city's newly constructed skate park." The city performed a standard background check when hiring Hatcher, which included having him submit his fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI for a state and national criminal history record check.
The screening "did not turn up any indication of the kind of behavior that is alleged in his arrest warrant," officials said. Hatcher's employment background check and personnel file are both available for public inspection, according to the Facebook post.
Ivey asks that anyone with additional information or knowledge of potential victims call 321-633-8419 or the anonymous CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Emily Walker is a Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or elwalker@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @_emilylwalker
Support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Melbourne City Parks employee charged with child porn possession
