A man accused of damaging four Flock license-plate reader cameras in was arrested Thursday after investigators reportedly used information captured by the camera system to identify him.
Colby Williams faces four counts of second-degree criminal damage to property, four counts of third-degree arson, one count of reckless conduct and one count of interference with government property.
According to an arrest warrant, the damage began Tuesday night.
Williams allegedly fired a projectile at a Flock camera, leaving two large melted areas on the device.
Investigators allege Williams then traveled approximately two miles to another area, where three additional cameras were targeted.
Two of those cameras caught fire, while authorities found what appeared to be two bullet holes in the third.
Despite the damage, the Flock system reportedly captured a license-plate number that helped investigators identify Williams as a suspect.
Williams was booked into Jail on Thursday morning. Jail records indicated that no bond had been set.
Flock cameras automatically photograph passing vehicles and record license-plate information.
Law-enforcement agencies use the system to locate stolen vehicles and identify vehicles potentially connected to crimes.
The technology has also faced growing criticism from privacy advocates concerned about how vehicle-location information is collected, stored and shared.
Cameras have been damaged in several communities, including Liberty County, where authorities reported vandalism involving multiple devices in August.
The controversy surrounding the system has intensified as Georgia agencies investigate allegations that law-enforcement personnel accessed license-plate data for unauthorized personal reasons.
Several officers and deputies have recently been arrested, fired or have resigned following agency audits.
One recent case involved a Clayton County deputy accused of using the system for a purpose unrelated to law enforcement, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
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