Documented Incident
Multi-agency investigation into vandalized and stolen Flock cameras across Lorain County, Ohio
First reported: August 31, 2026 · 2 sources
Law enforcement agencies in and around Lorain County, Ohio, are investigating a series of incidents in which Flock license plate reader cameras were damaged, shot, painted or cut from their poles and taken. The Lorain County Sheriff's Office reported four damaged cameras out of the 15 it operates, and said it is comparing information with neighboring departments that have reported similar damage. In Erie County, a surveillance camera captured what a sheriff's report described as two males who cut down a pole and removed a camera before fleeing on foot; no arrests were reported. Wellington police said both of that department's Flock cameras have been destroyed.
Coordinated damage to leased surveillance equipment raises questions for local governments about liability, replacement costs and public consent for ALPR programs, and the multi-jurisdictional response shows how quickly camera networks link agencies across county lines.
Key facts
- Lorain County Sheriff's Office operates 15 Flock cameras; four were damaged, at SR 58/162, 511, 18 and Gore Orphanage Road, and SR 113 and Baumhart Road
- Similar damage reported by Elyria, Lorain, Wellington and New London police and the Erie and Ashland county sheriff's offices
- Reported damage included a camera shot multiple times, poles cut, cameras stolen, a smashed solar panel and one camera painted green; a Gadsden flag sticker was placed on one camera in New London
- Erie County report describes two suspects, possibly late teens to early 20s, seen on nearby surveillance video; no arrests reported
- Sheriff's Maj. Steven Scharschmidt said vandalism in Ohio ranges from a fifth- to third-degree felony depending on the value of the damaged property
- Huron County's sheriff's office does not use ALPRs due to cost, though several municipalities in the county do, per Chief Deputy David Ditz
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Investigation of destruction of Flock cameras underway in Lorain County (morningjournal.com, August 31, 2026)
- Investigation of destruction of Flock cameras underway in Lorain County (news-herald.com, September 1, 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 2, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.