Tinkering fouled up LBPD power backup during outage
Published 8:19 am Sunday, February 15, 2026
LONG BEACH — An unscheduled power outage on Feb. 4 in Long Beach led investigators to a culprit who allegedly shut off the Long Beach Police Department’s emergency generator propane supply. The incident was captured on surveillance camera.
When the power kicked off, a generator at the Long Beach City Hall kicked on. But another at the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) did nothing, leaving the agency at a standstill.
Eric Cowsert, the investigating officer, stated in court documents that the effects included a “base station radio, computers, phones, video surveillance equipment, Wi-Fi, ductless heat pump, officer body worn camera system, patrol car camera system, and evidence refrigerators completely [losing] power.”
“[A public works employee] reviewed the police department video surveillance cameras showing the emergency generator and heat pump system,” Cowsert added. “[He] began reviewing at the time of the power loss and worked backwards checking each day’s recorded footage.”
The footage allegedly captured Jacob M. Stapleton, 29, tinkering with the valve on Jan. 31, 2026, at 10:04 p.m.
“Stapleton departed the public sidewalk and walked down the east side of the police department building,” Cowsert said. “Stapleton is seen walking straight over to the ductless heat pump electrical equipment. Stapleton bends down and briefly touches the equipment with his bare hands.”
“Stapleton then walks straight over and around the backside of the emergency generator. [He] then bends down around the pipe a couple times before turning the valve control to the off position,” Cowsert added.
He allegedly fiddled around and left the property in a span of one minute.
According to court documents, there was no indication that Stapleton was trying to fix something, nor did he report any issues to the Pacific County 911 Communications Center or city officials.
“I reviewed the video surveillance footage of Stapleton entering the property unlawfully and tampering with the police department property,” Cowsert said. “I recognized Stapleton in the video from previous in-person law enforcement contacts. Stapleton’s actions caused an interruption and impairment of services rendered to the public.”
“Had a larger scale incident or emergency have occurred the result could have had serious or life-threatening consequences. If the outage had occurred during a weekend or holiday when the office was not staffed, a loss of refrigerated evidence could have occurred,” Cowsert added.
Stapleton was apprehended Feb. 6 and is facing charges of first-degree malicious mischief and second-degree criminal trespass. He is being held on $25,000 bail.