MORGANTOWN — A 20-year-old Morgantown man has been charged in Monongalia County after authorities alleged he damaged a Flock camera.
According to court records, Illia Petrov, 20, is charged with damage, destruction or theft of equipment used by emergency responders and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Investigators allege the incident occurred on or about June 26.
Petrov is free on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond while the case proceeds.
The charges follow a separate case filed last month against Wesley Jackson, 20, who was accused of damaging two Flock cameras along Chestnut Ridge Road in Monongalia County.
The cases come as Flock’s camera technology has drawn scrutiny elsewhere in West Virginia. In Huntington, resident Greg Jamison filed a lawsuit in Cabell County Circuit Court on July 16 challenging the city’s approval of a $2.1 million contract with Flock Safety for license plate readers and video surveillance equipment.
The lawsuit alleges the city failed to follow required procedures when awarding the contract.
Huntington City Council approved the agreement in July by a 6-4 vote following a lengthy public meeting. More than 50 residents spoke in opposition to the technology, and protesters gathered outside City Hall during the meeting.
Flock Safety cameras are automated license plate reader systems that use high-resolution cameras and software to capture images of passing vehicles. The cameras record information such as a vehicle’s license plate number, make, model, color and other visible characteristics, then store that data in a searchable database that participating law enforcement agencies can access.
Supporters say the technology helps investigators locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects more quickly. However, civil liberties organizations argue the systems collect data on millions of drivers who are not suspected of any crime, raising concerns about privacy, government mass surveillance, data retention and oversight. The technology has become the subject of debate in communities across the country and West Virginia as local governments weigh its public safety benefits against concerns over civil liberties.
