San José police say aerial support and license plate technology helped them track down and arrest a man suspected of physically abusing two young children. Officers first responded to a welfare check on Sunday in south San José, then later carried out what they called a high-risk vehicle stop that ended with the suspect in custody. According to police, both children are now safe.
In a post from the San José Police Department, officials stated that personnel in the department’s Real-Time Intelligence Center utilized automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras to track a vehicle linked to the investigation. The post states the suspect allegedly strangled a toddler with a plastic bag and physically assaulted a young boy. The man was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspected child abuse and child neglect charges.
Another win for our SJPD AIR3 who helped locate a violent suspect responsible for physically abusing two young children.
— San Jose Police Dept (@SanJosePD) November 18, 2025
On November 16th, SJPD conducted a welfare check in south San Jose after receiving a report of child abuse that occurred a few days prior. The investigation… pic.twitter.com/e8w1CyjHeX
How police tracked the vehicle
Automated license plate readers photograph plates and record the date, time, and location of each scan, information that can be checked in real time against lists of stolen cars or vehicles tied to investigations, the Brennan Center for Justice explains. Civil rights advocates argue that when these scans are stored for extended periods or shared widely, they can create detailed records of a person’s movements. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, argue that the systems help them quickly locate suspects. The ACLU has documented those competing public safety and privacy concerns.
Arrest details and next steps
According to the department’s post, SJPD’s AIR3 unit and analysts in the Real Time Intelligence Center helped pinpoint the suspect’s location the day after the welfare check. That allowed officers to conduct a controlled vehicle stop in north San José and arrest the man without further incident. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on allegations of child abuse and child neglect. Prosecutors are expected to review the case before deciding on any formal charges.
Officials are asking anyone who has information about the incident or who may have witnessed it to contact law enforcement or the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children's Services. The county lists a 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline at 1-833-SCC-KIDS (833-722-5437).
