A Faribault man's alleged attempt to make a Flock license-plate camera disappear has turned into a court case, just as a wave of camera damage and privacy protests is spreading across the country. The device was reportedly found in his garage with its lens taped over, which is one way to turn an automated surveillance system into a very expensive paperweight.
Justin Lee Campbell, 42, was charged in Rice County District Court with interference with emergency communications and gross misdemeanor theft after investigators said he allegedly pulled a Flock camera from its mount last Monday. He appeared in court last Wednesday, was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled for another hearing on October 7, 2026, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The criminal complaint says the camera went offline at 1:43 a.m. last Monday after an emergency dispatcher received a report that someone had taken it. A co-worker allegedly saw Campbell remove the camera from a backpack, and police later found the equipment on the floor of his garage, with black tape covering the lens.
Campbell allegedly told police he found the camera in the road and did not know what it was, while also saying he intended to take it apart and had no plans to keep it. The complaint, as described in the report, says he had previously complained that the cameras tracked him coming and leaving Faribault.
One Missing Camera, A Much Bigger Surveillance Debate
Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that photograph passing vehicles and store images with timestamps, giving law enforcement a searchable record of where cars have been seen. An advocacy guide from the ACLU of Massachusetts argues that the technology can enable real-time and historical tracking without a warrant, while supporters say it helps locate stolen vehicles and identify suspects.
Faribault Deputy Police Chief Matthew Long told the Star Tribune that the stolen camera has not been replaced. The city could face a bill of roughly $800 for a new unit and another $50 for cut cables, while Long said the cameras have been valuable in many investigations.
That argument is now colliding with a growing list of damaged or disabled units. In Ashland, Ohio, police said at least five Flock cameras were damaged, leaving broken poles, shattered solar panels and loose wires, as Hoodline reported.
California has seen its own version of the backlash. Monterey County Now reported that local law enforcement agencies use more than 300 Flock cameras, even as residents and civil-liberties advocates question data sharing with out-of-state and federal agencies.
Charges Are Allegations, Not A Verdict
Campbell's case remains pending, and the criminal complaint represents allegations rather than a finding of guilt. The court will ultimately determine whether prosecutors can prove the theft and communications charges.
For now, the camera is offline, the replacement bill is coming due and the larger argument is still running at full speed. Flock was built to make surveillance nearly invisible; the resistance to it is becoming much harder to miss.
