The arrest of 20-year-old Wesley Jackson in Monongalia County triggered a massive outpouring of online support: a WDTV post about the case drew more than 29,000 comments, many offering humorous or implausible alibis. Similar reactions have followed other reports of disabled Flock Safety cameras, including an incident in Winona, Minnesota, where officials shut off comments after being flooded with praise for the unknown perpetrator. The response reflects a growing public backlash to automated surveillance technologies and a widening debate over privacy and public safety.
Online Community Crafts Wild Alibis After Arrest in Flock Camera Vandalism Case
Shutterstock / Futurism
When Monongalia County, West Virginia, police arrested 20-year-old Wesley Jackson on suspicion of damaging automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) installed by Flock Safety, they sparked an unexpected online response.
A post by local station WDTV about the arrest drew more than 29,000 comments, according to reports. The Washington Post and other outlets noted that responses were overwhelmingly sympathetic toward Jackson, with strangers and community members offering a steady stream of humorous and improbable alibis in his defense.
Absurd Alibis and Viral Support
Commenters claimed Jackson could not have been responsible because he was, at the same time, allegedly doing everything from replacing a homeless shelter roof and handing out dog treats, to canoeing, rescuing puppies from burning buildings, sweeping a parking lot and rescuing cats from trees.
“He was actually kissing the homies goodnight at the time of the incident. Couldn't have been him,” one commenter wrote, a deliberately absurd example of the tone many replies took.
A Broader Pattern
Similar comment storms have followed other reports of Flock cameras being disabled. In Winona, Minnesota, police posted that “all eight of our city's Flock cameras were missing.” That announcement was quickly inundated with supportive messages for the unknown perpetrator, and the department eventually turned off comments under the release.
“Whoever you're suspecting was actually on a fishing trip with me between July 29th and August 1st,” one user joked under the Winona post. Another wrote, “Love seeing the comments on these police releases of flocks being cut down. It restores some faith in humanity that no one wants to be tracked indefinitely in the name of ‘safety.’”
Why This Matters
These exchanges highlight a rising public backlash against automated surveillance technologies such as Flock’s ALPRs. For some people, disabling the cameras is framed as a protest against perceived overreach and mass tracking; for authorities, such acts are vandalism that can impede public-safety tools.
Note: An arrest is not a conviction. Allegations against Wesley Jackson remain subject to legal process.
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