A New Mexico man has been arrested and faces felony charges after he documented himself removing 10 Flock Safety camera systems, which he referred to as "tyranny trees." Jevon Martinez, 44, of Rio Rancho, was charged with larceny and interference with communications after he was stopped by deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) outside their headquarters with the equipment in his truck.
Martinez filmed and posted videos on social media on September 2, explaining his actions and stating he was returning the equipment to BCSO after the department had ended its contracts with Flock Safety. He claimed he was not destroying or stealing the equipment but rather reclaiming unattended property. However, authorities stated that only two of the 10 camera systems were associated with BCSO, while the other eight were managed by neighborhood associations. The combined estimated value of the removed systems was $16,500.
This incident occurred shortly after Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen had moved to terminate the department's contracts with Flock Safety, citing concerns about privacy, data sharing, and the company's confidence. Allen indicated plans to explore other vendors for automated license plate reader technology, while still supporting the technology itself.
Martinez's videos showed him loading the dismantled camera equipment into his pickup truck. He framed his actions as a challenge to see how many systems he could remove in one day. This was not his first encounter with law enforcement regarding license plate readers; he had previously been arrested in a separate Sandoval County case involving the alleged removal and damage of three similar systems, facing nine felony charges in that instance.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies observed Martinez driving past BCSO headquarters multiple times with the equipment in his truck before eventually stopping him. He was taken into custody without incident, though the arrest was made with guns drawn. Martinez was held due to an existing violation of his release conditions from the Sandoval County case, where he has since been indicted by a grand jury.
Flock Safety's automated license plate readers collect license plate text, date, time, camera location, and basic vehicle characteristics like make, model, and color. While the company states the system does not collect driver identity, privacy advocates express concern about the vast amount of searchable data these systems can generate, creating detailed records of vehicle movements. This data can be correlated with other information, raising alarms about potential misuse and surveillance.
In light of public concerns, authorities advise residents to inquire about the companies operating license plate readers in their communities, data retention policies, and access controls for the systems. Public records and meetings are suggested avenues for residents to understand and challenge the use of such surveillance technology before contracts are renewed.