Pender County Flock cameras credited with tracking suspect in Virginia abduction case

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY-TV) — A Flock Safety camera operated by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office is being credited with helping authorities track a suspect accused of abducting a 17-year-old girl in Virginia.

The case comes as Flock Safety cameras face growing scrutiny across the Cape Fear region over privacy concerns and the potential use of collected data by law enforcement.

According to Major William Knott of the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, the teenager was reported missing Wednesday morning after she failed to return home following class or contact her family.

Investigators quickly focused on the girl’s 19-year-old boyfriend, identified as Alonzo Claiborne of Prince George County, Virginia.

“Through the Flock technology and also other technology made available to us, we were able to track him going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,” Knott said.

The teenager was left behind in Myrtle Beach, while Claiborne became involved in a pursuit with police in South Carolina. Authorities said he later stole another vehicle.

Thursday morning, Flock Safety cameras in Pender County detected Claiborne. He fled from police again before heading toward the Intracoastal Waterway, where he was arrested.

Claiborne is facing multiple charges in Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The 17-year-old girl has since been reunited with her family in Virginia.

While authorities in Virginia say Flock cameras helped track the suspect, commissioners in Brunswick County are taking steps to examine the technology.

Commissioners recently approved a 30-day freeze on the purchase of new Flock Safety cameras amid concerns from some board members about public privacy and the potential misuse of data by law enforcement.

The resolution comes after New Hanover County ended its contract with Flock Safety. Cameras there are expected to be removed.

Despite the concerns surrounding the technology, Knott said Flock cameras played a role in helping authorities locate the teenager.

“She’s back with her family, she’s safe, which is a great thing for us to be able to return her family and give them that peace of mind,” Knott said.

WWAY has reached out to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office for comment about the Flock cameras used to track Claiborne. The agency had not responded at the time of publication.