San Bernardino deputies used ALPR data to identify man accused of vandalizing Flock cameras

Event: August 21, 2026 · First reported: September 4, 2026 · 12 sources

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said deputies found several automated license plate reader cameras significantly damaged in Highland around 6 a.m. on Aug. 21. Investigators said they collected video showing a person and a vehicle, then used license plate reader technology to identify the vehicle and the driver. A 41-year-old man was arrested Sept. 2 on suspicion of felony vandalism and held in lieu of $30,000 bail; the arrest was announced Sept. 3. No charges have been proven in court.

Why this matters

The case illustrates how ALPR networks can be used to investigate attacks on the cameras themselves, and it comes as agencies nationwide face scrutiny over data sharing with federal immigration authorities and misuse by individual officers.

Key facts

Deputies reported multiple damaged ALPR cameras in Highland on Aug. 21; a 41-year-old man was arrested Sept. 2 on suspicion of felony vandalism.
Sheriff's officials said a search warrant at the man's home produced evidence linking him to the vandalism; bail was set at $30,000.
The department reports 271 Flock Safety cameras across 14 patrol jurisdictions.
Other reported vandalism includes incidents in the Morongo Basin Station area since March, cameras removed and destroyed in May, a camera cut down in Adelanto, and paintball damage in the Central Station area in April.
The article notes that some agencies have shared Flock data with federal immigration officials and that officers elsewhere have used the data to track individuals, including former partners.

Timeline

September 4, 2026He’s accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland. A license plate reader was used to find him.
September 4, 2026He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Daily Bulletin
September 4, 2026He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Orange County Register

Sources

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

He’s accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland. A license plate reader was used to find him. (dailybulletin.com, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Daily Breeze (dailybreeze.com, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Whittier Daily News (whittierdailynews.com, September 4, 2026)
He’s accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland. A license plate reader was used to find him. (Orange County Register, September 4, 2026)
A California man is accused of damaging Flock cameras. A license plate reader was used to find him. (East Bay Times, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Daily News (dailynews.com, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Redlands Daily Facts (redlandsdailyfacts.com, September 4, 2026)
He’s accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland. A license plate reader was used to find him. (San Bernardino Sun, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Pasadena Star News (pasadenastarnews.com, September 4, 2026)
He’s accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland. A license plate reader was used to find him. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Daily Bulletin (dailybulletin.com, September 4, 2026)
He accused of damaging Flock cameras in Highland . A license plate reader was used to find him . – Orange County Register (ocregister.com, September 4, 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 5, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.