Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man for stealing 10 Flock cameras around town
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Bernalillo County, NM - Jevon Martinez was arrested on Sept. 2, after investigators said he removed 10 Flock camera safety systems without authorization, loaded the equipment into his pickup truck and livestreamed his actions on social media.
Court documents reveal that Martinez admitted that he personally removed the cameras, poles and solar panels. The ten systems that he stole had an estimated value of $16,500.
Only two of these cameras were associated with BCSO, and the additional eight were managed by other neighborhood associations.
Martinez said that he was "returning" the cameras to BCSO as a political statement, but investigators watched him drive past BCSO headquarters multiple times with equipment in his truck. The cameras were recovered after deputies stopped his truck outside the sheriff's office.
BCSO wants to reiterate that they did decide to end their contract with Flock Safety, but the cameras were not abandoned property, and members of the public were not authorized to dismantle or remove them.
Martinez has a criminal history dating back to 2003 where he faced multiple charges of sexually exploiting a minor. He was also arrested less than three months ago by Rio Rancho Police in connection with the removal and damage to similar license plate reader equipment. Martinez is currently facing nine pending felony charges in Sandoval County arising from the alleged removal and damage to license plate reader equipment.
Martinez was booked on charges of larceny (over $2,500) and interference with communications.