How Flock Safety’s cameras are turning everyday drivers into “pre-crime” suspects, one misread at a time.
We expanded on Business Insider’s March 9, 2026 investigation by cross-referencing additional local news reports, court documents, police records, and settlement details. This gives direct links, extra context, and fuller stories for each of the people wrongfully targeted — going beyond the original dozen cases BI identified.
A typical Flock Safety ALPR camera silently scanning every car that drives by.
In the 2002 film Minority Report, people are arrested for crimes they haven’t committed. Replace the precogs with Flock Safety’s pole-mounted AI cameras, and that dystopia is here in 2026.
Flock’s system blankets communities, blasting real-time “stolen plate” alerts to officers. When it works, it helps catch suspects. When it doesn’t — and records, lawsuits, and bodycam footage prove it fails often — innocent drivers are yanked from their cars at gunpoint, mauled by K-9s, handcuffed in front of terrified kids, or jailed for hours.
A federal judge summed it up during one settlement: “Flock Flocked up.”
Here are the people wrongfully targeted (with direct links to local coverage):
Brandon Upchurch, Toledo, Ohio (April 2024) Flock misread the “7” on his red Dodge Ram as a “2.” Officers drew guns. When he hesitated, the K-9 officer released the dog, which latched onto his dreadlocks, slammed his head into the pavement, and bit his arm. Hospitalized, jailed, charges dropped. Upchurch lost finger sensation, sold his truck, was evicted, and rehomed his two dogs out of fear. He settled his lawsuit for $35,000. Read the local coverage: WTOL Toledo – City reaches $35K settlement | ABC News interview
JC and Carolyn Herron plus their 3-year-old granddaughter Penelope, Morristown, Tennessee (June 2025) Flock confused their “LOVEY” (letter O) plate with a recovered stolen truck’s “L0VEY” (zero). Guns drawn. Grandparents handcuffed while their terrified granddaughter cried alone in the backseat. Cleared only after VIN check. Read the local coverage: WATE – Couple handcuffed due to license plate mix-up | YouTube bodycam & interview
Jason Burkleo, Atherton, California (April 2021) Dirt made Flock read “H” as “M.” Stopped at gunpoint, ordered to the ground, handcuffed. Settled lawsuit for $45,000. Department admitted the camera misread the plate. Read the local coverage: The Almanac – Officer involved in arrest also named in lawsuit | EFF report on the case
Jaclynn Gonzales and her 12-year-old sister, Española, New Mexico (July 2023) Flock flagged their Kia after reading “2” as “7.” Both ordered out at gunpoint and handcuffed. Bodycam captured the girl pleading, “Can you call my mom?” Family settled lawsuit in 2025. Read the local coverage: KOAT – License plate cover leads to traffic stop mishap | Santa Fe New Mexican – Sisters sue Española
Thor Andrews Sr., Redmond, Washington (August 2025) Flock linked his Ford Fusion to his son’s felony warrant because they share the same name. Officers surrounded Andrews in his own driveway and handcuffed him despite correct registration. Released only after identity check. City temporarily paused Flock use amid backlash. Read the local coverage: KING5 – License plate camera got it wrong. Police arrested the father instead | Drone video & report
Chrisanna Elser, Columbine Valley / Bow Mar area, Colorado (September 2025) Flock cameras tracked her green Rivian truck passing through Bow Mar. A sergeant used that data plus doorbell footage to falsely accuse her of stealing a $25 package. She spent days gathering her own dashcam, Google location history, and Ring video to prove her innocence. Summons voided, officer disciplined. Read the local coverage: Colorado Sun – After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft | CBS Colorado – Flock cameras lead police to wrong suspect | Denverite – Officer faces discipline
A mother and her young children, Sherwood, Arkansas (February 2026) Flock misread their black Chevrolet Tahoe plate due to a loose/broken frame (X read as Y). Full felony stop with guns drawn. Parents handcuffed in front of the kids. Cleared only after investigation. Officer ordered to additional training. Read the local coverage: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Loose plate holder leads to errant traffic stop | CarScoops – Arkansas Police Drew Guns On A Family
8–10. Additional documented cases from BI’s review plus local records
These include a driver in Leitchfield, Kentucky (recent high-risk stop after single-digit misread), plus patterns in Oak Park, Illinois (where 40% of Flock-triggered stops were erroneous) and multiple other cities driven by misreads, stale data, and lowered confidence thresholds. EFF reporting also documents Flock data used to surveil Black Lives Matter protesters, women seeking reproductive care, and Romani communities.
The Privacy Nightmares: Unencrypted Data Left Public-Facing Online, and Already Being Weaponized
Flock’s network tracks millions of innocent vehicles daily and shares data across 5,000+ agencies and nearly 80,000 cameras nationwide. Your every move can be searched for weeks.
In December 2025, security researchers exposed at least 60 Flock Condor PTZ cameras streaming live video and 30 days of archives completely unencrypted on the open internet — no passwords required.
Even worse, the technology is already being weaponized.
In February 2026, Milwaukee Police Officer Josue Ayala was criminally charged after using Flock to stalk a romantic partner — running her plate 124 times and her ex’s 55 times in two months.
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This is not a “what if.”
It is a “when.” Who will abuse this overreaching technology and weaponize it next?
Flock claims officers should “always manually verify,” yet adjustable confidence levels, constant adrenaline-pinging alerts, nationwide data sharing, and basic security failures create the perfect conditions for both tragic errors and deliberate abuse.
Flock is valued at $7.5 billion. Communities are canceling contracts. Residents are tearing down cameras. Sen. Ron Wyden and privacy groups are demanding accountability.
Until Flock is forced to publish real accuracy rates, enforce ironclad verification before guns come out, properly secure every camera and data feed, and face real liability when its technology destroys lives, more innocent Americans will pay the price.
Flock Flocked up.
And the only question left is not if this dangerous, overreaching surveillance system will be abused. The question is when, and who will weaponize it next.
Primary Sources
Nicole Einbinder, Business Insider (March 9, 2026)
404 Media exposé on exposed Condor cameras (December 2025)
Milwaukee PD charging documents vs. Officer Josue Ayala (February 2026)
EFF investigations on Flock surveillance abuse
All images and links from Business Insider, local news outlets (WTOL, WATE, KING5, Colorado Sun, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, etc.), 404 Media, and verified public records.
