Documented Incident
Wisconsin deputies cited Flock-tracked interstate travel as probable cause in marijuana search
Event: April 1, 2025 · First reported: August 5, 2026 · 1 source
A Marinette County, Wisconsin criminal complaint reviewed by 404 Media states that deputies used Flock license plate reader hits to track Edward Abrams-Phillips driving from Wisconsin into Michigan and back over several hours in April 2025. The complaint cited those hits, plus prior Flock reads indicating he "travels to Michigan frequently," and described Michigan as a "known source State for Marijuana as it is legal there," as part of the probable cause for stopping and searching his car. Abrams-Phillips had been wanted on a bail jumping charge tied to domestic violence allegations; that charge was dismissed, and court records show he was found guilty only of marijuana possession in the case.
The complaint documents ALPR data being used not just to locate a wanted person but to build an inference about drug activity from lawful travel to a neighboring state, raising questions about what limits, if any, govern how pattern-of-travel data supports probable cause.
Key facts
- Flock hits and the traffic stop occurred in April 2025 in Marinette County, Wisconsin.
- The complaint listed specific Flock camera locations along Highway 41, including at Brown Rd, County Line, and Bridge St. heading into Michigan.
- Deputies described Michigan as a "known source State for Marijuana" because it is legal there, while it is not legal in Wisconsin.
- The bail jumping charge was dismissed; the only conviction in the case was for marijuana possession.
- 404 Media based its reporting on court records; the sheriff's office response, if any, is not described in the excerpt.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Cops Used Flock to Track a Man Across State Lines to Create Pretext to Search His Car for Weed (404 Media, August 5, 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 11, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.