Documented Incident
Holland man, 19, charged with felony after Flock camera damaged in Ottawa County, Michigan
Event: July 29, 2025 · First reported: August 25, 2026 · 2 sources
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said multiple Flock Safety license plate reader cameras were damaged in the county over the past month, prompting an investigation. In a July 29 incident that the agency estimated caused $1,500 to $2,000 in damage, deputies arrested 19-year-old Jerod Allen Folkert of Holland on a felony charge of malicious destruction of police property. Sheriff Eric DeBoer said public debate about the technology is welcome but that destroying publicly funded property is a crime rather than protest. The charge is an accusation and has not been resolved in court.
Damage to ALPR cameras has been reported in a number of communities where the technology has drawn opposition, and how agencies and prosecutors respond shapes the line between criminal conduct and lawful debate over surveillance policy.
Key facts
- Ottawa County Sheriff's Office reported multiple Flock cameras damaged in the county within the past month.
- The July 29 incident caused an estimated $1,500 to $2,000 in damage, according to the sheriff's office.
- Jerod Allen Folkert, 19, of Holland, was arrested on a felony charge of malicious destruction of police property; no conviction has been reported.
- Sheriff Eric DeBoer said debate over the technology is welcome but property destruction will not be tolerated.
- The sheriff's office asked anyone with information to call (616) 738-4000.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Holland man charged for damaging Flock camera as incidents rise in Ottawa County (WWMT, August 25, 2026)
- Holland man charged for damaging Flock camera as incidents rise in Ottawa County (wsbt.com, August 26, 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 26, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.