Documented Incident
Federal suit alleges Cumberland, R.I. police wrongly arrested woman after Flock camera identification
First reported: August 13, 2026 · 2 sources
East Providence resident Eva Pizzarelli has filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, alleging she was wrongfully arrested after police used Flock Safety license plate camera images and social media to link her to a vehicle involved in a pursuit that crossed into Massachusetts. Her attorney, Jose Batista, says the car was not registered to her and had no connection to her. The town declined to comment on the pending litigation but, in its response to the complaint, denied that probable cause rested solely on social media while acknowledging that the sergeant named in the case did not contact the vehicle's registered owner or another person connected to the car. The criminal case against Pizzarelli was later dropped without a stated reason.
The case tests how far ALPR data can be used to identify individuals rather than vehicles, a distinction the ACLU of Rhode Island says was not part of how the technology was presented to communities. Cumberland's review of its contract, which runs to next year, may influence how other Rhode Island municipalities weigh renewal decisions.
Key facts
- Cumberland has 10 Flock cameras installed under a contract that took effect in 2024 and is set to expire next year.
- Police said an officer observed a white woman with red hair driving the vehicle during the pursuit; Batista alleges officers then used Flock images and social media to identify Pizzarelli.
- The town admitted in its court response that the named sergeant did not contact the car's registered owner or another individual linked to the vehicle.
- The ACLU of Rhode Island has asked the town council to cancel the Flock contract; Mayor Jeffrey Mutter said the town is reviewing privacy and data-use concerns.
- Flock Safety did not respond to WPRI's request for comment on the lawsuit; the allegations have not been adjudicated.
Timeline
- August 13, 2026Woman sues Cumberland for alleged wrongful arrest tied to Flock cameras
- August 14, 2026Woman sues Cumberland for alleged wrongful arrest tied to Flock cameras
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Woman sues Cumberland for alleged wrongful arrest tied to Flock cameras (WPRI.com, August 13, 2026)
- Woman sues Cumberland for alleged wrongful arrest tied to Flock cameras (WPRI.com, August 14, 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 16, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.