When a Cobb County man allegedly fired projectiles at and set fire to automated licence plate readers, investigators ultimately used the same camera network to track his vehicle and locate him.
The Cameras Helped Police Find Their Alleged Attacker
Officers in Cobb County arrested 25-year-old Colby Williams of McDonough on Thursday morning following a string of attacks on local surveillance equipment.
Investigators say that late Tuesday night, someone shot projectiles at Flock cameras, setting them on fire. A unit at East Cobb Park was found completely melted, with a 'DEFLOCK' sticker left on the pole.
About 1.5 miles down Roswell Road, three more Flock cameras at a Home Depot were targeted. Two caught fire, while a third had two bullet holes.
Investigators tracked a 2013 grey Volkswagen captured on the camera network. Officers then used licence plate recognition data from the system to locate Williams.
Williams Faces Multiple Charges
Williams faces four counts of second-degree criminal damage to property, four counts of third-degree arson, one count of reckless conduct and one count of interference with government property.
Authorities have not said what type of projectile was used to damage the cameras. Police have also not confirmed whether Williams is connected to similar property damage reported in Henry County and Marietta. Marietta Police said they are working alongside Cobb County officers to determine whether Williams is responsible for camera destruction in their jurisdiction.
Parkgoers Divided Over Surveillance
Visitors at East Cobb Park expressed concern over the deliberate destruction of public safety equipment.
'Why would people do that,' frequent park visitor Bharat Kalani said.
Another park visitor, Uajee Uddim, noted there are 'bad elements out there that are looking to target those cameras'. Following the arrest, Uddim added, 'Good to know he's been arrested, and I hope elements like those are off the street.'
Park visitor Shawn Churney voiced mixed feelings about the widespread surveillance technology but condemned the violence.
'Yeah, it can record crime, but you don't know what else they're using them for,' Churney said. 'Whoever did that y'all wrong for that man.'
Cobb County Police Sgt Eric Smith said the cameras had been intentionally damaged. Smith noted that 'Flock cameras were used to locate Williams.'
Flock Cameras Fuel a Wider Surveillance Backlash
The arrest comes amid a broader national trend of automated licence plate readers being vandalised.
Some people on social media expressed support for Williams while criticising local law enforcement for deploying the cameras.
'What it boils down to is this, either y'all can take them down or somebody will!' one Facebook user declared under FOX 5's post about the arrest.
Another commenter made an appeal to patriotism: 'it wasn't him, he was at the library rereading the Constitution!'
As local authorities investigate potential links to similar incidents in neighbouring jurisdictions, the case highlights growing tensions between expanding public surveillance networks and public opposition to them.
