The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday arrested a man in connection with damage to a license plate reader camera in Destin, warning that destroying the devices will result in criminal charges even though all of the agency’s Flock cameras have been deactivated.
- Deputies arrested the man for damage to a camera at the intersection of Airport Road and Main Street that occurred on Aug. 16. He is charged with felony criminal mischief and was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
A warrant is pending against a second individual for damage to another Flock camera. On Tuesday, a third camera was found damaged along Highway 90 near the Walton County line. That incident is under investigation.
All OCSO Flock cameras were deactivated on Sept. 1 and are no longer in operation following a statewide order from the Florida Department of Transportation revoking permits for automated license plate reader systems on state rights-of-way. OCSO said the deactivation is unrelated to the ongoing criminal investigations.
The Sheriff’s Office said the use of LPR cameras has not been deemed unlawful or ruled unconstitutional, and that Flock has the same rights as any other victim of a crime.
“People are free to disagree with the prior use of this technology,” Sheriff Eric Aden said. “They’re free to speak out against it. What they are not free to do is destroy someone else’s property. We will investigate and pursue charges when there is probable cause for an arrest.”
