Ohio Grand Jury Declines to Indict Man Accused of Sabotaging Flock License Plate Camera

Cody Morelock faced felony vandalism accusations after Union Township police said he took apart a Flock automatic license-plate reader, its support pole and solar panel on June 13. Detectives identified him through footage from adjacent cameras and information tied to a credit-card and a rewards account, estimating the equipment’s damage at more than $1,000. After posting a $10,000 bond, Morelock was released, but a Clermont County grand jury opted not to indict, leading to dismissal of the charges.

This outcome occurs as anti-Flock sentiment rises, with numerous cameras vandalized across the United States, including a recent incident in Winona, Minnesota. Activists are promoting “De-Flock America Night” on Halloween to target the devices. Critics argue that recent safeguards announced by Flock do little to curb police misuse of the data, which the Institute for Justice says has been abused in over 100 cases.