Vice/Narcotics investigators received information that individuals were traveling outside Brunswick County to purchase methamphetamine and returning to the county to distribute it.

Investigators identified the vehicle through traditional surveillance, but during the investigation the suspects began using counter-surveillance techniques, making continued physical surveillance difficult without potentially compromising the investigation.

ALPR information helped investigators determine when the vehicle returned to Brunswick County and assisted in locating it.

Investigation Result: Approximately 107.2 grams (3.8 ounces) of methamphetamine seized and three trafficking arrests.

Investigators received three separate community complaints involving suspected illegal drug activity by Brunswick County residents.

ALPR information helped investigators establish vehicle and travel patterns associated with the individuals under investigation. Investigators were then able to better focus physical surveillance and other investigative resources.

Investigation Result: Approximately 8 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of crack cocaine and 4 grams of methamphetamine were seized, along with six firearms and drug paraphernalia. Four felony arrests were made.
All three community complaints were successfully closed through the resulting investigations.

Investigators received information regarding an individual suspected of traveling outside Brunswick County to obtain narcotics for distribution locally.

ALPR information helped corroborate the information, identify the vehicle involved and assist investigators in locating it. During the investigation, the individual was also connected to a trailer and other equipment stolen from a Brunswick County construction business.

Investigation Result: Approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine seized. The stolen trailer and other property were recovered and returned to the owner.

During a seven-month investigation, ALPR information helped investigators identify multiple vehicles associated with individuals suspected of trafficking narcotics throughout Brunswick County.

Investigators used vehicle travel information to identify patterns, common routes and suspected resupply trips into and out of Brunswick County.

Investigation Result:

• 7 arrests
• Approximately 952 grams of methamphetamine
• Approximately 303 grams of cocaine
• Approximately 8 grams of fentanyl
• 3 weapons of mass destruction
• 2 stolen firearms

Investigators received information that an individual was traveling outside Brunswick County in another person’s vehicle to obtain a trafficking quantity of fentanyl for distribution locally.

The individual had already left the area before investigators could establish physical surveillance. ALPR information helped investigators identify the vehicle, determine its direction of travel and locate it as it returned to Brunswick County.

Investigation Result: Approximately 6.2 grams of fentanyl and 6.2 grams of hydrocodone were seized along with multiple firearms.
Charges included trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Following numerous community complaints regarding suspected narcotics sales on Oak Island, investigators developed information that an individual was traveling outside Brunswick County to obtain methamphetamine for local distribution.

ALPR information assisted investigators in documenting the vehicle’s travel and determining when it was returning to Brunswick County following a suspected resupply trip.

Investigation Result: More than 59 grams of methamphetamine were seized and a methamphetamine trafficking charge was filed.

During a two-month methamphetamine investigation in northern Brunswick County, investigators identified an individual suspected of supplying narcotics to another person under investigation.

ALPR information assisted investigators in identifying a suspected resupply trip to Georgia and the vehicle’s return to Brunswick County.

Investigation Result: Approximately 83 grams of methamphetamine seized and one felony trafficking arrest.

During a three-month investigation, investigators identified an individual suspected of making frequent narcotics resupply trips outside Brunswick County using multiple vehicles.

ALPR information helped investigators identify the vehicles most frequently used and develop travel patterns associated with suspected resupply activity. Investigators combined that information with physical surveillance during a trip to the Fayetteville area.

Investigation Result: Approximately 39 grams of methamphetamine seized and three felony arrests for trafficking in methamphetamine.

During a four-month investigation involving cocaine distribution in northern Brunswick County, investigators used ALPR information to help identify which vehicle was being used for suspected resupply trips and develop a timeline for that activity.

The investigation concluded with traffic stops involving two vehicles.

Investigation Result: Approximately 61.3 grams of cocaine and one firearm seized. Four felony arrests were made.

Investigators developed information through controlled purchases and other investigative methods that an individual was traveling to the Charleston, South Carolina area to obtain large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution in Brunswick County.

ALPR information helped identify a third-party vehicle associated with the investigation and establish common travel routes, providing additional information that supported physical surveillance.

Investigation Result: Approximately 61.4 grams of methamphetamine were seized as the individual returned to Brunswick County.

During an investigation into cocaine and methamphetamine distribution in the Calabash area, investigators received information that an individual was obtaining narcotics in South Carolina and returning to Brunswick County for distribution.

ALPR information helped investigators identify a recurring travel pattern between Brunswick County and South Carolina and assisted investigators during a suspected resupply trip.

Investigation Result: Approximately 56.1 grams of methamphetamine and 46.5 grams of cocaine were seized.

During a death-by-distribution investigation, ALPR information was used alongside source information and other investigative techniques to help establish a timeline and travel pattern associated with an individual under investigation.

Investigators subsequently conducted a traffic stop following a suspected narcotics resupply trip.

Investigation Result: Approximately 68.9 grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of fentanyl and 2.7 grams of crack cocaine were seized.

BCSO investigators were contacted by law enforcement in South Carolina regarding an armed robbery suspect who had kidnapped an adult woman and fled into Brunswick County.

Using vehicle information provided by the investigating agency, ALPR technology assisted investigators in locating the vehicle after it entered Brunswick County and provided additional vehicle information to investigators.

The vehicle was subsequently located in Shallotte.

Investigation Result: The suspect was apprehended and the victim was safely recovered.

During a homicide and shooting investigation in the Longwood area, ALPR information assisted investigators in tracking a stolen Mercedes associated with the crime.

Vehicle movement information helped investigators establish a more complete timeline and direction of travel.

Investigation Result: The vehicle was subsequently recovered and processed for evidence as part of the major violent-crime investigation.

During an investigation involving a stolen Featherlite enclosed trailer, ALPR technology captured a vehicle associated with the investigation towing the stolen trailer through Brunswick County.

The information helped investigators document the movement and possession of the stolen property and corroborated other evidence developed during the investigation.

ALPR helped identify a suspect and connect that individual to stolen property as part of a larger breaking-and-entering and larceny investigation.

Investigation Result: The larger investigation resulted in 32 felony charges and seven misdemeanor charges.

Following a breaking and entering at First in Flight Vape Shop, surveillance footage identified a gray Ford Explorer as a vehicle of interest.

ALPR information helped investigators further identify the vehicle and document its presence in the Calabash area around the time of the offense. The vehicle was subsequently located, its driver identified, and additional information corroborated details previously provided by a witness.

Investigation Result: ALPR information helped investigators move from an unidentified vehicle of interest to an identified investigative lead and supported additional investigative steps and search warrants.

Investigators used ALPR information to help reconstruct the movements of a stolen 2020 Dodge Charger and identify another vehicle traveling in connection with it.

ALPR information showed corresponding travel patterns between the two vehicles and helped investigators trace the associated vehicle to the Chatham County, Georgia area.

Investigation Result: Investigators developed an out-of-state lead that could be shared with law enforcement partners in Georgia for continued investigation.

Following a break-in at a pharmacy in Supply in which prescription narcotics were stolen, BCSO investigators worked with state and federal law enforcement partners to identify those responsible.

ALPR information, combined with other investigative techniques, helped investigators identify vehicles associated with the burglary, verify vehicle movements and establish their presence in Brunswick County around the time of the offense.

Investigation Result: The information contributed to the identification and apprehension of individuals connected to more than 100 pharmacy burglaries across North and South Carolina.

Automated License Plate Reader cameras capture still images of license plates and vehicles traveling on public roadways. The system compares plate numbers with law-enforcement databases and approved lists of vehicles connected to crimes, missing persons or active investigations.

Some Flock camera models are capable of recording live video. However, BCSO does not use those models. BCSO’s Flock cameras capture still images of vehicles and license plates-not continuous video footage. The information may include the vehicle image, license plate number, date, time, and camera location.

No. BCSO does not use these cameras to monitor speed, issue traffic citations or enforce registration and inspection violations.

The system sends an alert to authorized law-enforcement personnel. An alert alone does not confirm that a crime has occurred. Deputies must verify the information before taking enforcement action and follow all applicable laws and BCSO procedures.

Yes. A plate may be misread because it is damaged, obstructed or similar to another plate. This is why BCSO policy requires deputies to confirm an alert before taking enforcement action.

Access is limited to trained and authorized sworn personnel and specifically designated non-sworn personnel. Users must access the system through an individual, password-protected account.

No. ALPR information may only be accessed for an official and legitimate law-enforcement purpose related to a specific investigation or official action. Personal, unauthorized or curiosity-based searches are prohibited.

Yes. The system records who accessed the information and the date and time of the access. Search activity can be reviewed as part of the agency’s oversight and auditing process.

The system automatically deletes stored ALPR information after 30 days. Information may be preserved longer only when it is needed for a criminal investigation. In that situation, it must be saved in the agency’s case-management system and documented in an investigative report.

The Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee must audit the ALPR system at least once every 30 days. Suspected unauthorized access, use or release of ALPR information must be reported to a supervisor.

Any request from another law-enforcement agency to access BCSO’s ALPR data must be approved by the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee. The same policy restrictions apply when BCSO personnel access information shared by another agency.

Alert lists may include vehicles connected to:

• Stolen vehicles or license plates
• Wanted persons
• Missing persons or AMBER Alerts
• Gang or suspected terrorist activity
• Active criminal investigations
• Local “Be on the Lookout” notices

Vehicles cannot be added solely because of an expired registration, inspection violation or driver’s-license violation.

Visit the BCSO Flock Transparency Portal to view public information about the program, including BCSO’s policy, retention period, sharing information, and system-use statistics.