Flock Cameras Helping Solve Crimes

These new cameras are proving a useful tool for law enforcement

On April 17th, Troy City Council approved a sole-source contract with the Flock Group, Inc. in the amount of $57,150 with near unanimous approval of the measure; Council Member Samuel Pierce voted against the measure.

A recent report from Chief Shawn McKinnley of the Troy Police Department to the City Council shows how the recently installed Flock Camera System has been used to help solve crimes throughout the community in the first full month of use.

The report stated that on Friday, June 30th the installation of the nine flock cameras were completed and used in the following cases throughout July:

July 3 - A woman reported the theft of her debit card. Transactions indicated it had been used at Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and a Shell Gas Station in Troy. A review of the stores’ surveillence cameras led to suspects and their vehicle description, but the license plate was not visible. Flock cameras provided the license plate number. Upon further investigation, an adult female was charged with theft.

July 5 - Flock cameras alerted officers to a Jeep Cherokee stolen from Piqua in the area of West Market Street and Interstate 75. An office attempted to stop the vehicle but if fled north on the interstate. Piqua officers would eventally recover the vehicle after several incidents in Piqua involving the Jeep. Through additional investigation, a Troy officer was able to identify the driver and file charges for driving under suspension and failing to comply with the lawful order of a police officer.

July 5 -Flock cameras were used to confirm that the suspect vehicle that intentionally rammed another car in the area of Elm Street and West Water Street was in Troy. The driver was identified by witnesses. The suspect charged with five counts of felonious assult, driving under suspension, reckless operation, and leaving the scene of a crash.

July 6 - Wal-Mart reported a shoplifting of $1,637 in merchandise. A suspect vehicle was identified using the Flock camera system. Through investigation in cooperation with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, theft charges were filed. The suspect was also being investigated for thefts totalling over $8,000 in stolen trading cards in Clark County, Huber Heights and Beavercreek.

July 6 - Flock camera were used to refute an allegation by a driver involved in a single-vehicle crash. The driver was charged for the crash and driving under suspension.

July 7 - A silver pick-up truck struck a yield sign on the Public Square and left the scene of the crash. A suspect vehicle was identified using the Flock camera system and after additional investigation charged for hitting the sign and leavint the scene of the crash.

July 11 - The Flock camera system was used to assist the Piqua Police Department in the investigation of a theft of a credit card from a nursing home in Piqua, in which the stole card was then used at the Lowe’s in Troy. A suspect was charged with felony unauthorized used of the credit card for a total value of just over $1,800. Two females were identified through cooperation with other agencies including Huber Heights, Findlay, and Perkins Township near Toledo, the women appeared to be targeting nursing homes.

July 17 - Theft from Wal-Mart. Loss prevention reported a theft of at least $1,696 worth of merchandise. Suspect vehcile was identified as it passed a Flock camera. Further investigation led to the identification of the suspect and a felony charge of theft was filed.

July 18 - A vehicle was struck on a private parking lot at 205 E. Franklin St. and the suspect left the scene. The owner suspected it was their trash truck. The driver of the trash truck initially thought he was driving a white truck that night and there was no evidence of damage. Officers checked the Flock camera and found out that night the driver was in a red truck. Upon checking the red truck, tere was evidence of damage that matched. The driver took responsibility for the crash.

July 20 - A black Pontiac Grand Prix left the scene of a crash at the Circle K on West Main Street. A witness obtained the license plate number and Flock cameras confirmed that the vehcile was in the area, in Troy. Upon further investigation, a resident of Toledo was charged with leaving the scene of the crash.

July 25 - An officer attempted to pull over a motorcycle that was doing a wheelie in the area of West Main Street and Ridge Avenue, the driver did not pull over and flet, the officer terminated the pursuit. The motorcycle was located on Flock cameras, but the license plate was unreadable Further investigation using multiple Flock cameras and store surveillence cameras led to a West Milton resident being charged with failure to comply with the lawful order of a police officer and multiple traffic violations.

July 30 - A stolen Penske rental truck from Massachusetts was located in the Kroger parking lot after Flock cameras in the area of West Market Street and Interstate 75 alerted officers. The truck was recovered and the driver arrested.

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