Documented Incident
Brick, NJ police charge man with criminal mischief in July 8 Flock camera pole cutting
Event: July 8, 2026 · First reported: August 15, 2026 · 2 sources
Brick Township police announced on Aug. 14, 2026 that Andrew Wardell, 31, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief in connection with the July 8 toppling of a 15-foot pole holding a Flock license plate reader camera at an Exxon station on Drum Point Road and Hooper Avenue. Police said the pole appeared to have been cut overnight, possibly with a reciprocating saw, and that the camera continued to function. Investigators did not disclose a motive, and Wardell could not be reached for comment; the charge is an accusation that has not been resolved in court.
The case shows how physical damage to ALPR equipment is being investigated and prosecuted, and how agencies are responding publicly to questions about what the cameras do — an issue facing the thousands of jurisdictions where Flock devices are installed.
Key facts
- Andrew Wardell, 31, of Brick was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief; arrest announced Aug. 14, 2026 after what police called a lengthy investigation.
- Police responded around 7:30 a.m. on July 8 and found the pole down; the Flock camera was still operating.
- Brick Township police have used the Flock system since May 2024; the crowdsourced DeFlock map lists roughly half a dozen cameras in Brick.
- Flock says it operates 120,000 cameras in 49 states; USA TODAY reported deployments in the jurisdictions of more than 6,000 law enforcement agencies.
- In announcing the arrest, police said the cameras generate investigative leads and do not issue tickets, make traffic stops or determine guilt; civil liberties groups have warned the technology could enable mass surveillance.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Brick police make arrest in toppling of Flock surveillance camera (Asbury Park Press, August 15, 2026)
- Brick police make arrest in toppling of Flock surveillance camera (Yahoo! News, August 15, 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 August 17, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.