Arizona scrutiny grows over Flock Safety cameras, privacy concerns

Well, cities across Arizona are debating flock cameras, license plate readers used to stop crime, but may also put privacy at risk. And tonight we hear from a Pinal County man who took matters into his own hands and maybe in big trouble for doing it. Jacob Luthi joins us live with his story, Jacob. Yeah, Ed Kale tells me he's a Pinal County man. He tells me that it was pure frustration that led him to do what he did. But we're also seeing that frustration boil over all over this state. Now, these automated medic license plate reader cameras can be found all over. Flock says that they actually partner with around 60 agencies here in the state. Two less now that Chandler and Pinal County decided to drop them. So we talked to residents about their thoughts on this matter, including Kale, who took matters into his own hands, kept backing up and I saw it been back. I saw it looking at the sky and I said, that's good enough. Pinal County resident Ed Kale says he was arrested and faces a felony criminal damage charge after he used his work truck to bend a surveillance camera toward the sky. Kale says he did it to protest what he calls an invasion of privacy. Move out here because we want quiet. We don't want to cause any trouble. I don't. Now I'm under surveillance. Kale's frustration comes as scrutiny of license plate reader technology continues to grow across Arizona. I think it takes away from our free will. You know, we shouldn't be recorded everywhere we go. On Wednesday, Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple announced he won't renew the county's contract with Flock Safety's automatic license plate reader cameras, citing concerns over government overreach and constitutional privacy. And friday Chandler to announce it will discontinue using 40 of its flock cameras. That's real happy to hear that the sheriff of Pinal County is pulling them out. Flock says its cameras capture still images of vehicles and license plates in public but cannot track people or identify drivers. The company says its customers own and control the data. I think as long as it's um not overdone, you don't have like a flock camera in every single corner or something. I think that can be more feasible if someone gets kidnapped. I mean, I want that stuff instantly. Those people pulled over and a child saved. Kale says he's a father of three, a small business owner and a taxpayer. And he says while the cameras may have benefits, he fears they could also be used for corruption and harassment. I'm being punished. So it's my business and you know what? It's worth it. The only thing necessary for evil to be done is for good men to do nothing. Now kill did acknowledge again that what he did was illegal, but he says that he doesn't regret it despite the fact that he tells me he still does not have his work car back. Now, as for the flock cameras here in Pinal County, that contract is up in september. But again, it's up to the individual cities in Pinal County to decide whether or not they want to renew their individual contracts. Of course, we'll be following the story. The more that it continues to develop reporting in Apache Junction, Jacob Luthi Fox 10 news.