Wisconsin law enforcement used Flock license plate cameras to monitor a man’s vehicle as it traveled into Michigan, where adult-use marijuana is legal, and back into Wisconsin before stopping him and searching his vehicle.
404 Media was first to report the case, which occurred last year but was detailed in court records obtained and reviewed by the outlet.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Brown County, a sheriff’s deputy received a Flock notification on April 26, 2025, identifying a vehicle registered to Edward Abrams-Phillips, who had an outstanding felony warrant connected to a domestic violence case.
Deputies initially could not locate the vehicle but continued following its movements through the Flock network. Cameras recorded the vehicle traveling north on Interstate 41, through Marinette and into Michigan.
“Based on prior flock hits, the vehicle travels to Michigan frequently which is a known source State for Marijuana as it is legal there,” the complaint states.
At approximately 3:56 p.m., another Flock camera recorded the vehicle traveling south toward Green Bay. Deputies coordinated an effort to intercept it, with the complaint saying the driver matched Abrams-Phillips’ description and that the vehicle’s registration was suspended.
While the active warrant and suspended registration were cited as reasons for the traffic stop, the complaint’s probable cause section specifically referenced Abrams-Phillips’ previous trips to Michigan and characterized the state as a source of marijuana because it allows legal sales.
After the vehicle was stopped, a deputy said he detected the odor of raw marijuana coming from inside. Abrams-Phillips declined to consent to a search, but the deputy told him the vehicle would be searched because of the alleged smell.
During the search, deputies reported finding a grinder containing marijuana, a jar with marijuana residue, two resealable bags labeled as marijuana products and a pre-rolled joint. A receipt found with the products reportedly listed Abrams-Phillips’ name and indicated they were purchased from the Nirvana Center dispensary in Menominee, Michigan.
The complaint states that the total amount seized was 8.22 grams. Abrams-Phillips was charged with felony bail jumping, misdemeanor possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The bail-jumping charge was later dismissed, and Abrams-Phillips was ultimately found guilty only of marijuana possession, according to 404 Media’s review of court records.
The case highlights concerns surrounding the use of automated license plate readers to track people traveling between states with substantially different marijuana laws. Although deputies said the warrant and suspended registration justified the stop and the alleged marijuana odor justified the search, authorities also used historical camera data to identify repeated trips to a state with legal marijuana.
The report comes as a Michigan dispensary has drawn attention to a Flock camera positioned near its parking lot. JARS Cannabis in Madison Heights placed a “No Flock Zone” sign in front of the camera, saying it shared the community’s concerns about increased surveillance.
According to 404 Media, Madison Heights required the dispensary to install the camera as a condition of receiving its license and to give police continuous access to its footage and data.
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