Workers reprimanded for trying to videotape ghost in public building

BUTTE, Mont., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Officials in a Montana county said two public employees were reprimanded for putting a camera in a health department room in hopes of photographing a ghost.

Butte-Silver Bow County Health Department Chief Executive Matt Vincent said an investigation was opened when officials discovered a motion-sensitive camera in a little-used room of the department's building in Butte, The Montana Standard, Butte, reported Thursday.

The camera was found to belong to the non-profit Butte Paranormal Investigative Team, and an employee was found to have helped the group. Another worker had knowledge of the camera, Vincent said.

Vincent said Tuesday the two employees were reprimanded. Prosecutors concluded no crimes had been committed.

Vincent said the incident could be characterized as both "off the wall" and "serious."

"I mean, for God's sake, whenever you are talking about ghosts it's off the wall," he said. "But it's serious in that the public gives trust in us and we need to take that seriously, and setting up cameras in public buildings to catch paranormal activity I don't think is gaining the public's trust."