Grand jury declines to indict Ohio man charged with destroying Flock camera
An Ohio grand jury declined to indict a man accused of vandalizing a Flock license plate reader camera. The case reflects a growing national backlash against automated surveillance technology and concerns over police misuse.
Why it matters
Illustrates the rising public resistance to mass surveillance infrastructure and the legal challenges surrounding private-public security partnerships.
A grand jury in Ohio has declined to indict a man charged with felony vandalism for allegedly destroying a Flock automatic license plate reader camera. Police in Union Township, a Cincinnati suburb, accused Cody Morelock of disassembling the camera, its support pole and solar panel on June 13. Investigators, according to WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, identified Morelock after obtaining surveillance footage from other cameras near the scene as well as information linked to a credit card and a customer rewards account. Police estimated the damage at more than $1,000. Morelock posted a $10,000 bond and was released from custody shortly after his arrest. A Clermont County grand jury, however, opted not to indict Morelock, and the charges were dismissed. Flock resistance growing While details on the grand jury’s decision are limited, it comes amid a growing backlash against Flock and its cameras.
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