Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office Says Flock Camera Helped Locate Missing 9-Year-Old
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office says a Flock Safety license plate camera helped deputies locate a missing 9-year-old boy and take a suspect into custody following a reported child abduction Saturday.
The sheriff’s office received the report at approximately 12:50 p.m. Deputies and detectives immediately began searching for Jackson Blaney.
Information about the suspect’s vehicle was entered into the Flock system and added to a law enforcement hot list in accordance with the department’s policy. A Flock camera subsequently detected a matching license plate in the area and alerted authorities.
Deputies located the vehicle at Suncrest Towne Centre, confirmed that it matched the description and approached the suspect.
Jackson was recovered unharmed, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Our highest priority in any call we receive will always be the safety and well-being of our children and citizens,” Monongalia County Sheriff Todd Forbes said. “Every second counts when a child is in danger, and our community can rest assured that our department will deploy every resource available to protect our youth and bring them home safely.”
The investigation remains active. The sheriff’s office said additional information about potential criminal charges would be released as it becomes available.
The recovery comes as the use of Flock cameras remains the subject of a growing public safety and privacy debate in Monongalia County and across West Virginia.
The Monongalia County Commission approved a three-year, $180,000 agreement for 20 automated license plate readers. The cameras photograph passing license plates and vehicle characteristics, allowing the system to notify law enforcement when a vehicle connected to an active investigation is detected.
The sheriff’s office has said information collected by the county’s cameras is retained for 21 days before it is automatically deleted. Officials have also said searches must be connected to an active investigation and include a case number.
Critics have raised questions about privacy, data sharing and the county’s use of opioid settlement money to purchase the cameras. Supporters have argued that the technology can help investigators locate missing people, recover stolen vehicles and respond more quickly during serious criminal investigations.
West Virginia lawmakers examined those competing concerns during August interim meetings. The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization heard presentations from Flock Safety and the Institute for Justice about the cameras, access to collected information and possible constitutional safeguards.
Saturday’s recovery gives Monongalia County authorities a specific example of how the technology can be used during an emergency involving a child and a known vehicle, even as the broader debate over its limits and oversight continues.
