A Vandal Has Knocked a Gray Television Station Off the Air

It appears that at least one viewer was not happy with the local TV station and took matters into his own hands.

Gray’s WJHG (Panama City, FL) has been knocked off the air and is relying on streaming and Facebook to get their newscasts out to viewers.

The station says that around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WJHG’s signal abruptly went off the air. An employee noticed what happened and looked outside to check. That’s where he found a man he didn’t recognize near one of WJHG’s satellite dishes.

They saw a man cutting satellite communication equipment.

In all, cables on nine satellites were severed. The WJHG employee told deputies the suspect was a white male, dressed in a dark jacket and camouflage. He was last seen walking off Front Beach Rd. When deputies arrived, they were unable to find anyone matching the suspect’s description.

“We are conducting a full criminal investigation,” said Sheriff Tommy Ford, Bay County.

“Processing the area as a crime scene,” said Sheriff Ford. “Fingerprints and DNA, things of that nature in an attempt to once we locate a possible suspect, to tie them back to that area.”

The damage is significant. WJHG General Manager Ulysses Carlini said crews have been working non-stop making repairs.

“I think as we progress. we are evaluating all of the connections that were cut which were extensive,” said Carlini.