A Clermont County grand jury has dismissed felony charges against Cody Morelock, who was accused of damaging a Flock surveillance camera system in Union Township, Ohio.
According to Union Township police, Morelock removed bolts that secured the camera equipment on June 13, causing it to fall and be destroyed at Mount Carmel-Tobasco Road near Glenrose Lane. Investigators identified him through footage from other nearby Flock cameras. The damaged system, leased by the Union Township Police Department, caused an estimated loss of more than $1,000—exceeding Ohio’s felony vandalism threshold.
Prosecutors had charged Morelock with felony vandalism due to the damages surpassing the state’s threshold. However, a grand jury declined to issue an indictment against him.
This incident reflects a national pattern of Flock camera vandalism and misuse. In Winona, Minnesota, police recently reported that eight license plate reader cameras were cut down and stolen earlier this month. Social media groups have also organized events encouraging the destruction of these devices during Halloween.
Critics argue that Flock cameras record vehicle information for law enforcement access but often raise significant privacy concerns under the Fourth Amendment. The Institute for Justice has documented over 100 cases of alleged misuse by law enforcement officers, including personal stalking incidents. In Ohio, cities like Dayton have taken steps to address issues after internal reviews found policy violations with their Flock systems.
