A Flock Safety camera helped Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers locate a vehicle reported stolen from Jefferson City on Sunday.
Troopers received an alert that the car was traveling westbound on I-70 near mile marker 146. After locating the vehicle, troopers pursued it until it stopped near mile marker 141, where a juvenile driver was taken into custody.
KRCG reported the vehicle was stolen from Jefferson City, while ABC 17 reported it allegedly belonged to a family member. Because the driver is a juvenile, authorities have not publicly released the person’s identity or additional identifying information.
A Camera Alert Becomes a Lead
The case also highlights how Flock Safety cameras can assist law enforcement in locating stolen vehicles. In this instance, the camera alert gave troopers a lead as the vehicle traveled along I-70.
The juvenile was taken into custody after the vehicle stopped. The available reports do not indicate that anyone was injured or provide additional details about what led to the vehicle being taken.
Flock Debate Already Underway in Jefferson City
🚨Flock Camera Locates Stolen Car🚨
Troopers received notification of a car, stolen from Jefferson City, traveling on WB I-70 @ 146MM. Troopers located the vehicle and a pursuit ensued.
The car eventually stopped at the 141MM and the juvenile driver was taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/VhigVaHLdW
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) September 13, 2026
Despite the controversy over Flock camera usage, this stolen-car incident comes just weeks after Jefferson City officials renewed the city’s agreement with Flock Safety amid growing debate over the use of automated license plate readers.
In an Aug. 17 report, ABC 17 News published that the Jefferson City Council voted to “overwhelmingly” renew the agreement as concerns over privacy and surveillance continued to draw attention. Police Chief Eric Wilde defended the technology as an important investigative tool, saying it had helped solve three homicides.
“This is just another tool that we use that has been one of the most effective that I have seen in my career,” Wilde said. He acknowledged the responsibility that comes with using the technology, saying the department will continue training officers, establishing policies and auditing Flock use to ensure the cameras are used appropriately.
“As law enforcement, we have so many tools that we can utilize that violate your constitutional rights,” Wilde added, comparing the need for oversight of Flock to the department’s use of weapons and other law enforcement tools. He said ongoing training, oversight, policy and auditing are how the department works to prevent misuse.
Flock Cameras Draw Online Backlash
The use of Flock cameras quickly became a point of debate on social media.
Local news outlet KOMU 8 posted on Facebook about the arrest, and some commenters questioned whether the technology was necessary and raised concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Others criticized what they described as favorable publicity for Flock cameras, while a smaller number defended the technology and welcomed its use.
Similar criticism appeared on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s X post about the incident. Commenters described the cameras as an invasion of privacy and criticized what they called “Flock propaganda.”
The reactions reflect an ongoing debate over automated license plate reader technology, which supporters say can assist investigations while critics raise concerns about privacy and surveillance.