Pismo Beach man arrested for damaging Flock Safety cameras in Monterey County, deputies say
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. -- A Pismo Beach man has been arrested after officials say he was caught destroying Flock Safety cameras in Monterey County.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, 40-year-old Marcus Bee traveled to the county to intentionally vandalize multiple Flock Safety cameras, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
The vandalism was reportedly seen on nearby surveillance cameras.
The evidence led investigators to identify Bee as the suspect.
He was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on a charge of felony vandalism, with bail set at $30,000.
This comes as residents in multiple communities across America are concerned about how Flock Safety cameras are used, citing privacy and data-use concerns.
In Southern California, the Los Angeles Police Department ended its contract with Flock following those same concerns.
The Fresno Police Department defended its use of Flock surveillance cameras during a community forum and maintained its support for the program, citing the camera's role in criminal investigations.
In a statement, Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto says:
"This arrest sends a clear message that anyone who intentionally damages public safety equipment will be identified, arrested, and held accountable. These cameras have become an invaluable investigative resource that helps us solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles and ag equipment, locate missing persons, and protect our communities. Any attempts to disable these systems will not prevent us from doing our job. In this case, the suspect's own actions were captured on surveillance cameras, leading directly to his arrest. We will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes and seek prosecution against anyone who targets public safety infrastructure."
