Most of the stories we read regarding the use of GPS technology involve catching the bad guys. This is a case where this technology exonerated a man accused of a crime he did not commit.
A 60-year-old driver for a handicapped transportation service in Turtle Lake, WI, was accused of sexually assaulting a child in his care. However, this past week he had the criminal charges against him dropped after the 11-year-old girl admitted she made up a story that he sexually molested her.
Paul Burritt was charged in Polk County in mid-December with 1st degree child sexual assault (sexual contact with a person under the age of 13) and child enticement after an 11-year-old girl alleged he brought her to his Turtle Lake home and molested her while she waited to be brought home. Burritt was transporting the girl from Impact Counseling in Hayward to her home in Birchwood.
Burritt maintained his innocence when being interviewed by Turtle Lake police investigators after the child initially reported her allegations to counselors and police last December.
GPS Data Confirms Driver’s Innocence
Security video and GPS tracking devices confirmed that Burritt was telling the truth. The GPS tracking data showed that Burritt took the child from Hayward directly to Birchwood and only made one wrong turn during the journey as he was unfamiliar with the route and was not her regular driver.
When the security video and data collected from the GPS device attached to his van confirmed that what Burritt was saying was true, investigators re-interviewed the girl and confronted her with the contrary evidence. She then admitted she made up the story.
Steffen said in similar circumstances, the initial investigation would have continued, which would have included gathering the security footage and GPS data, before any charges were officially brought. However, because of Burritt’s occupation and ongoing contact with children, the district attorney’s office felt it was necessary to act quickly in order to potentially protect other children in Burritt’s care, according to Steffen.
“When we made the charges, our alleged victim had given us detailed information, including background information that provided details” allegedly supporting the child’s story, Steffen said. “Due to his occupation, we believe we had to move quickly.”
This is a great example of how GPS tracking data can be utilized to help confirm driving records for transportation services. It not only keeps drivers accountable of their whereabouts and their scheduled routes, but it also provides crucial evidence for cases such as this one.
Businesses that provide services within the transportation and fleet management industry would benefit greatly from adopting GPS systems for their fleets of vehicles.
Read story@ landairsea
Tags: GPS Technology, GPS Trackers, investigation, Video Security
