Kentucky man charged with felony criminal mischief after 8 Flock ALPR cameras damaged

Event: September 20, 2026 · First reported: September 20, 2026 · 2 sources

Robert Taylor West, 44, was arrested Sept. 20, 2026, and charged with eight counts of first-degree criminal mischief and six counts of obstructing governmental operations after Mt. Sterling and Winchester police said he damaged or destroyed Flock automatic license plate readers in Montgomery and Clark counties. Mt. Sterling police said reports of camera damage began Aug. 15, 2026, and that of eight cameras affected in Montgomery County, six belonged to the police department and two were privately owned by Lowe's. Investigators said they identified the suspect using nearby security footage and ALPR data, and that a search warrant turned up clothing, tools and a vehicle they say link West to the incidents. Additional charges in Clark County are being handled by Winchester police, and the investigation remains open.

Why this matters

The case sits at the intersection of a live local debate over ALPR surveillance and the criminal consequences of property destruction, and it shows how the same camera network under scrutiny can be used to investigate attacks on itself.

Key facts

Charges in Montgomery County: eight counts of first-degree criminal mischief (a felony) and six counts of obstructing governmental operations; no convictions have been reported.
Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson said his department lost the use of cameras including one that was missing entirely, and that Winchester operates 15 cameras.
Thompson put replacement costs at roughly $800 per camera and solar panel plus about $2,000 for pole installation, with the department bearing the expense.
Both chiefs cited safeguards including monthly audits; Thompson also described a seven-day data retention window and said officers cannot make an arrest based on an ALPR hit alone.
At a Winchester public forum the week before, a resident objected that the profiles the system could build were 'terrifying,' according to LEX 18.

Timeline

September 20, 20268 Flock cameras damaged or destroyed in Montgomery County; suspect arrested
September 28, 2026Man accused of destroying Flock cameras in Clark, Montgomery counties released on bond

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

8 Flock cameras damaged or destroyed in Montgomery County; suspect arrested (LEX 18 News, September 20, 2026)
Man accused of destroying Flock cameras in Clark, Montgomery counties released on bond (Wkyt, September 28, 2026)

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About this record

BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.

Updated September 30, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.