Gray's Creek Fire Chief Arrested After Allegedly Placing Camera In Vent

HOPE MILLS, North Carolina — A fire chief accused of placing a miniature camera in a vent at Gray's Creek Volunteer Fire Department Station 24 appeared in court Friday afternoon.

Benjamin Joseph Marsh, 44, was arrested Thursday at 6:05 p.m. by Cumberland County Sheriff's Office detectives.

Marsh faces two criminal charges for intercepting and disclosing wire, oral or electronic communications after incidents allegedly occurring in November and December.

Marsh was released on $1,500 unsecured bond after being booked into the Cumberland County Center.

WRAL News obtained a recording of Marsh, who called a meeting with firefighters after the camera was discovered.

In the recording, Marsh admits to placing a camera in an air vent in the fire station's television room. In the recording, he said he placed it there to put an end to rumors circulating about an incident that occurred at the station several years ago.

Also in the recording, Marsh cited another reason why he put the camera in place.

“It was also to make sure that the people who were there double… or in my mind [in line] Back then, getting promoted wasn't part of the problem,” Marsh says in the recording. “If I had found out they were they wouldn't have gotten promotions.

The chief can be heard telling firefighters that the camera did not have the capability to record. He told firefighters he could use an app to turn on the camera to see and listen to people in the TV room, but said he didn't record anything.

Marsh appeared in court briefly Friday afternoon at the Cumberland County Detention Center. Another court appearance was scheduled for June 19.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Detective R. Wolfe at 910-677-5464 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.