Lake Worth man arrested in theft of security camera

The man who police suspect stole a security camera outside a day-care center earlier this month, then made threatening phone calls to the day care after surveillance video and pictures were released to the media, has been arrested.

Shawn David Franks, 24, was arrested Thursday night outside his Lake Worth residence.

He had a pair of silver “brass knuckles” in his possession and a portion of the Star-Telegram that included an article about the theft and a picture of the suspect folded and tucked inside his hat, according to a police report.

Fort Worth police had released a surveillance video of the suspect Wednesday, asking for the public’s help in identifying the man.

The video, recorded March 12 outside a day-care center in northwest Fort Worth, shows a car, possibly the suspect’s, driving around the daycare’s parking lot before driving out of the camera’s range.

Suddenly, a hand appears on the video, evidently trying to remove the camera. The thief was successful but not before the spiraling camera captures his face and what looks to be some distinctive arm tattoos.

On Wednesday, the same day as the video’s release, a man called the day care shortly after 4 p.m. and threatened employees.

“Take my f------ face off the camera!,” the caller reportedly said. “I have your f------ camera and you better get me off the f------ news or I’m going to kill you!”

Thursday afternoon, day-care employees received another call.

“Y’all had my picture on the news yesterday and I don’t appreciate it!,” the caller said, according to a police report.

When the employee pointed out to the caller that he had stolen their security camera, the caller responded, “I’m going to f------ come kill ya’ll right now!”

Frightened employees called police, who responded with lights and sirens because children were present at the day care, the police report states.

As police arrived, the man called back: “Why did you call the cops you f------ b----?”

The employee handed the phone to officers, but the suspect would not say more, the report states.

“This meant the [suspect] was actually present close enough to see the arrival of the police units that must have arrived in time to prevent him from going on property and harming any of the adults or children,” an officer wrote in his report.

Detectives had obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for Franks after identifying him as the man in the released video and photograph. A police report states Lake Worth police also notified investigators that they, too, recognized the suspect because he resides in their city and that they had dealt with him a lot.

Franks was arrested about 9 p.m. Thursday after arriving at his Lake Worth residence as officers watched the house, the report states.

Police seized his cellphone, the brass knuckles and the Star-Telegram article he was carrying. The phone will be analyzed for evidence, including whether he had phoned the day care during the time of the received threats.

Franks was being held in the Mansfield Jail on Friday afternoon facing charges of theft, possession of a prohibited weapon and retaliation. Total bail was set at $11,750, jail records show.

Day-care owners were informed of the arrest. Relieved yet still worried, the owners told police that parents have refused to return their children to the day care and even some staff had not returned, the report states.

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Lake Worth man arrested in theft of security camera."