Man films himself taking down Flock cameras, gets arrested
Man Arrested After Livestreaming Removal of County Surveillance Cameras
September 6, 2024 – Bernalillo County, New Mexico
A 44‑year‑old resident of Rio Rancho was taken into custody on Friday after he recorded himself hauling away a batch of surveillance cameras owned by Bernalillo County and several neighborhood associations. The incident followed a decision by the county’s sheriff to terminate its contracts with the camera vendor Flock Safety.
A public spectacle turns into a criminal case
On the morning of September 2, Jevon Martinez, a Rio Rancho trucker, began a livestream in which he explained that the county’s Department of Public Safety no longer had a subscription to Flock Safety, a company that supplies automatic license‑plate‑reader (LPR) cameras. Martinez said he was removing the cameras “so I could return them” and insisted he was not stealing or destroying the equipment.
“I’ve seen a bunch of these bad boys,” Martinez told viewers as he loaded the cameras into the bed of his pickup. “Let’s see how much I can get in one day. That’s gonna be the challenge for everyone out there.”
The videos show him driving the truck toward the sheriff’s office, repeatedly stating that “the BCSO is busy,” and labeling the cameras “tyranny trees.” When deputies finally stopped him outside the sheriff’s headquarters, they surrounded the vehicle with guns drawn, handcuffed him, and arrested him for alleged larceny over $2,500 and interference with communications.
Why the cameras were being removed
Sheriff John Allen had announced in early September that the county was ending three contracts with Flock Safety. The county had used the company’s technology for five automatic license‑plate‑reader cameras, 16 speed‑cameras linked to the Flock network, and gun‑shot‑detection equipment. Sheriff Allen said he no longer trusted Flock over concerns about privacy safeguards and the sharing of data with other agencies.
Despite the county’s decision, the cameras still sat in place. According to court documents, the ten devices Martinez removed were worth an estimated $16,500. Only two were tied to the sheriff’s office; the remaining eight belonged to neighborhood associations.
“BCSO also says the equipment remained property that members of the public had no authorization to remove,” the county’s statement noted.
A pattern of alleged tampering
Martinez’s case is not his first. In a separate incident in Sandoval County, he was arrested months earlier for allegedly removing and damaging three license‑plate‑reader systems. He faced nine felony charges in that case, and a grand jury later indicted him. The Sandoval County indictment remains pending, and prosecutors kept him in custody because of the violation of his release conditions.
Legal proceedings
Martinez appeared before Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on September 4. Prosecutors did not seek a pretrial detention order, and the judge did not hold him in the county’s case. However, due to the ongoing Sandoval County case, he remained in custody.
The criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County lists “attempted larceny over $2,500” and an interference with communications charge. Whether the charges are sustained will be determined in future court hearings.
Broader context
The controversy over Flock Safety cameras reflects wider concerns about automated surveillance. Critics argue that license‑plate‑reader systems can produce searchable databases of vehicle movements, raising privacy issues. Supporters say the technology aids law‑enforcement investigations and public safety.
In this instance, the removal of the cameras sparked a debate about who has authority to decide whether such devices should remain in public spaces. While Sheriff Allen expressed confidence in the underlying technology, he withdrew from Flock Safety because of data‑sharing policies. Martinez, on the other hand, took matters into his own hands, citing privacy fears and the county’s decision as justification for dismantling the equipment.
Current status
The case remains unresolved. Martinez’s removal of the cameras and subsequent arrest highlight how quickly a dispute over surveillance can turn into a criminal matter when someone removes equipment they do not own. The court will determine the outcome of the charges in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, and the county’s decision to end its contracts with Flock Safety may influence future discussions about surveillance policy in the region.