VIDEO: Rio Rancho police arrest man accused of destroying license plate cameras

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s an odd case in Rio Rancho, where license
plate reader cameras were destroyed and then replaced with a flag.
Police said the man behind the crime cost the city thousands in damages. 

A series of vandalized cameras had Rio Rancho police questioning who did
it. In May, Rio Rancho police found at least three Flock cameras, also
known as license plate readers, destroyed. The solar panels attached to
them were stolen, and then a flag was hung on top of the camera poles.
One of the altered flock cameras had a sign near it saying, “You’re
welcome, the Republic of New Mexico.” 

Within days of the investigation, police pulled over a truck that
matched the description of the car tied to the flock camera incidents.
The driver, 44-year-old Jevon Martinez, was arrested for an unrelated
warrant and has since been released. In the car, they found multiple
flags similar to those in the vandalism cases. 

Police said Martinez admitted to the vandalism when they asked about the
flags and that he even took videos on his phone every time. In the
video, audio plays saying, “Aww, look at my work, gentlemen. All these
cameras popping around, the Flock cameras—they are not ours; look at
that.” 

Then, within a week, Rio Rancho police got a warrant to look for some of
the missing equipment at Martinez’s home, even bringing in a SWAT team
because of his criminal history, including assault. 

Police said Martinez caused more than $20,000 worth of damage. Martinez
is facing nine felony charges, including larceny, criminal damage to
property, and tampering with evidence. He is expected to appear in court
on July 13. 

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/video-rio-rancho-police-arrest-man-accuse
d-of-destroying-license-plate-cameras/