Deputy uses Flock cameras to find missing girl in less than 30 minutes

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - A girl who was reported missing in Ohio was found safe last weekend after a deputy used Flock license plate reader cameras to locate the suspect’s vehicle in less than 30 minutes.

Lucas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Noonan said he input the suspect’s license-plate number in the Flock system and immediately identified a pattern showing the vehicle frequently appearing near the intersections of Holland Sylvania, Airport and McCord roads.

Noonan said he planned to position himself at a halfway point between those intersections.

While driving to the area, he received a notification that the vehicle was northbound on Holland Sylvania Road from Airport Road.

“I immediately drove to Holland Sylvania and Angola, and observed the vehicle sitting at the red light, and conducted a U-turn and got behind him, and as soon as the light turned green, I ended up initiating a traffic stop,” Noonan said.

Suspect detained with loaded handgun

Noonan found the girl inside the vehicle with the suspect, who was identified as an 18-year-old Toledo man.

The suspect was detained and found with a loaded 9 mm handgun tucked into his waistband.

The suspect was then turned over to the Toledo Police Department, which is the lead agency in the investigation.

Sheriff’s office credits Flock system

Lucas County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Robert Chromik said the technology was critical to the outcome.

“If we didn’t have Flock right now, we’d have a much different type of investigation going on. We’d still either have a missing teen, and I really don’t want to go beyond that because that thought is just scary itself,” Chromik said.

Noonan said this was the first time he personally located a missing juvenile using the system.

“We utilize Flock for all kinds of other things as far as apprehending suspects and criminals, but this is the very first case that I’ve actually personally located a missing juvenile rather than just passing the information along to the corresponding agencies,” Noonan said.

Potential charges against the suspect have not yet been confirmed by Toledo police.