Frog Pond Recording Arrest
Registered Sex Offender Arrested After Allegedly Recording Children at Boston Common's Frog Pond
Key Points
The arrest was carried out by Boston police and U.S. Marshals in Brockton on a warrant out of Boston Municipal Court for photographing sexual or intimate parts of a child; authorities arrested Sullivan early Tuesday in the Brockton area (162 Warren Avenue).
The underlying incident occurred on Aug. 14 at the Frog Pond area of Boston Common (near 38 Beacon Street), where witnesses said Sullivan used sunglasses with a camera to record children and also used his cell phone; he followed a family trying to change their children, who were wrapped in towels.
Police seized Sullivan’s glasses and cellphone as evidence, and investigators noted that victims were not located at the scene and the case remained under investigation after the August incident.
When confronted, Sullivan removed the sunglasses and attempted to break them, claiming that a group of people pulled the glasses off his face and assaulted him—an account echoed by multiple outlets.
A registered sex offender from Brockton secretly recorded children at Boston Common's Frog Pond using camera-equipped sunglasses and a cellphone, Boston police say. Mark Sullivan, 60, was arrested Tuesday at his home at 162 Warren Avenue in Brockton on a warrant out of Boston Municipal Court, according to Boston Globe and CBS News.
Sullivan is a Level 3 sex offender — the highest risk classification — and now faces charges of photographing the sexual or intimate parts of a child, Boston.com reported. The incident took place on August 14 at around 1 p.m. near the Frog Pond playground at 38 Beacon Street.
Camera Sunglasses Used to Secretly Film Changing Children
Witnesses told police that Sullivan walked through the Frog Pond area wearing sunglasses with a hidden camera built into them. He followed families around the playground while the glasses scanned children, Boston Herald reported. In one instance, he allegedly recorded a family while they changed their children, who were wrapped only in towels.
Sullivan also used his cellphone to record children at the scene, according to Boston Globe. Investigators seized both the camera sunglasses and his phone as evidence. Police noted that victims were not located at the scene immediately, and the case remained under investigation after the August incident.
Sullivan Tried to Destroy the Glasses When Confronted
When people at the Frog Pond confronted Sullivan, he took off the sunglasses and tried to break them, Boston.com reported. He then claimed that a group of people ripped the glasses off his face and physically assaulted him. Police did not accept that account.
Boston police and U.S. Marshals worked together to arrest Sullivan at his Brockton home early Tuesday morning. He was then brought to Boston Municipal Court for arraignment, according to CBS News.
Prior Sex Offense Record Adds Weight to Charges
Sullivan's Level 3 status means authorities have determined he poses a high risk of reoffending, Boston.com noted. That classification is the most serious tier on Massachusetts's sex offender registry. His prior record made the Frog Pond incident especially alarming to investigators and the public.
Multiple local outlets — including Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and CBS News — all confirmed the same chain of events. The case is still developing, and authorities have not said whether additional charges or victims have been identified since the August 14 incident.
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