Teen accused of cutting down Flock cameras in Volusia County
Teen accused of cutting down Flock cameras in Volusia County
An 18-year-old Florida man is accused of using a reciprocating saw to cut down at least three Flock cameras in Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach, records show. The man said he cut down the cameras because he did not agree with them and was having a "rough" week, the report said.
PORT ORANGE, Fla. - An 18-year-old man is facing felony charges, after he allegedly cut down multiple Flock license plate reader cameras in Volusia County.
Detectives believe Jaden Brooks used a saw to cut down several Flock Safety cameras.
The backstory:
According to a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the investigation began after a deputy discovered a damaged Flock license plate reader near Airport Road in New Smyrna Beach.
Investigators said the pole holding the camera appeared to have been cut at the bottom, causing it to fall to the ground. Detectives later connected the incident to similar cases being investigated by the Port Orange Police Department.
After a week of investigating, Brooks was arrested on three counts of felony criminal mischief.
Brooks was released from Volusia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
What they're saying:
Investigators claim Brooks told them he cut them down with a saw because he didn’t agree with them and was having a rough week.
Flock cameras capture license plate and vehicle information that law enforcement agencies can use during investigations. Local law enforcement officials have defended the technology as a tool for identifying suspects and solving crimes. The use of Flock cameras has generated controversy, as people express privacy concerns.
In Sumter County, the Sheriff suspended their use, as they continue to explore options to add more checks and balances to the system. This, after a Sumter County detective was arrested, accused of using the cameras to access information about her husband’s ex-wife.
In Volusia County, some have voiced their desire to have the camera's removed.
Some residents said they understand concerns about privacy, but don’t support destroying the cameras.
"Going around cutting them down, that’s not too cool," New Smyrna Beach resident Patrick Fear said.
Fear said he does not have a problem with the cameras personally. Bradley Lyons shared a similar stance.
"I don’t have anything to hide," he said. "So… I don’t have an issue with them,"
For the most part, law enforcement agencies in Central Florida stand behind the use of the cameras, citing their usefulness in solving crimes.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.