Wisconsin police used Flock license plate reader cameras to track a man’s interstate travel to Michigan, where marijuana is legal, then used that surveillance data as part of the justification to search his car in Wisconsin, according to court records reviewed by 404 Media.
Edward Abrams-Phillips was initially wanted for bail jumping on domestic violence charges. However, the criminal complaint reveals that police specifically studied his travel patterns via Flock to create a pretext for a marijuana search. The complaint states that Flock data showed Abrams-Phillips “travels to Michigan frequently, which is a known source State for Marijuana as it is legal there.” Police tracked his vehicle northbound on Interstate 41 into Michigan, then southbound back into Wisconsin over several hours.
After intercepting the vehicle near Green Bay, deputies reported detecting “the odor of what he knew to be raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.” Abrams-Phillips was arrested on marijuana possession charges. According to court records, the bail jumping charge was dismissed, and he was convicted only of weed possession.
The case highlights what critics describe as surveillance overreach. While Flock cameras have legitimate law enforcement applications—such as locating wanted fugitives—this incident demonstrates their use to manufacture probable cause for minor drug offenses based primarily on where a person traveled.
The situation is particularly concerning given broader implications. A JARS Cannabis dispensary in Madison Heights, Michigan, recently posted a “No Flock Zone” sign to block a camera monitoring its parking lot—a camera required by the city as a condition of the dispensary’s license. The city subsequently issued a demand letter threatening sanctions if the sign was not removed within 48 hours.
According to the statement, the Flock camera was specifically mandated by Madison Heights to give police “unhindered live access” to monitor customer license plates at the dispensary. The sign’s brief viral moment raised questions about the implications of such surveillance technology in contexts involving legal activities.
Flock Audit Reports show that the Brown County Sheriff’s Department used Flock dozens of times on April 26, 2025, often searching thousands of cameras at once, though specific searches attributed to the Abrams-Phillips case are not clearly itemized in available documents.
Key facts
- Police tracked Abrams-Phillips’ vehicle crossing state lines via Flock cameras to Michigan, where marijuana is legal
- Officers used interstate travel data as part of probable cause justification to search the vehicle in Wisconsin, where marijuana is illegal
- The bail jumping charge was dismissed; Abrams-Phillips was convicted only on marijuana possession charges
- A Michigan cannabis dispensary was required by city ordinance to install a Flock camera monitoring customer parking lots
- The city threatened sanctions when the dispensary posted a sign blocking the camera