Accused Flock camera vandal arrested again after court review

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ky. (LEX News) — Update Sept. 25: A Montgomery County man accused of destroying multiple Flock cameras across Central Kentucky is back behind bars after court officials determined he should not have been released under a statewide pretrial protocol.

According to the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, Robert West Taylor Jr. was arrested Sept. 20 on charges related to the alleged destruction of Flock cameras in Clark and Montgomery counties. He was initially released under Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2025-22.

That order creates a statewide pre-arraignment release protocol. It allows Pretrial Services to release some defendants on recognizance, meaning without requiring money upfront, if:

• their identity is verified;
• their pending charge is eligible under the order; and
• their risk assessment falls within the permitted ranges.

That initial decision can be made under the established schedule without individual judicial review.

However, court officials said a later review uncovered additional information unrelated to Taylor's current charges that affected his eligibility for release under that protocol.

The AOC said court officials notified the court, and Clark County District Judge Earl Ray-Neal subsequently issued a bench warrant. Taylor was arrested again Sept. 24 and is now being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

Court records show Taylor was taken into custody by the Winchester Police Department at 10:23 p.m. Sept. 24 after the warrant was served. Records also show a judge later set his bond at $20,000 in Clark County.

Taylor, 44, originally faced eight counts of first-degree criminal mischief and other charges after police accused him of damaging or destroying Flock cameras, also known as automatic license plate readers, in Winchester and Mt. Sterling.

According to investigators, eight cameras were damaged across the two cities. Police said they ultimately identified Taylor with the help of the same license plate reader technology that had been targeted.

Update Sept. 21 at 11 p.m.: A 44-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly destroying Flock cameras, also known as automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, across two Kentucky cities over the weekend.

Robert West Taylor Jr. faces eight counts of first-degree criminal mischief, a felony, along with additional charges after authorities say he targeted cameras in Winchester and Mt. Sterling.

Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson said officers responded to find two of their cameras vandalized.

"Officers responded and found that two of their cameras had been vandalized. One of them was completely missing," Thompson said.

Four more cameras owned by Winchester Police were also hit, along with two others in Mt. Sterling on Sunday. With eight cameras now unusable, the two departments worked together to track down the suspect ,using the very technology West allegedly targeted.

"Then they were actually able to identify him ironically using an ALPR camera," Thompson said.

A search warrant was executed in Mt. Sterling Sunday night, where investigators found key evidence.

"The tools that he used, the backpack that he was wearing, things like that," Thompson said.

Police seized those items along with Taylor's vehicle.

The vandalism comes amid ongoing debate over the cameras' use. Just last week, during a Winchester forum, residents raised concerns about the technology.

"The profiles they will be able to build on this... on us, is terrifying," one resident said.

Thompson said officers cannot arrest someone based solely on an ALPR hit.

"We don't track anybody," Thompson said.

He added that the department has safeguards in place, including monthly audits and a seven-day data retention window. He also defended the cameras' value to public safety.

"They're extremely valuable tool. They locate missing and endangered people. They locate stolen vehicles," Thompson said.

Winchester plans to replace its four damaged cameras, though the cost falls on the department. The city currently operates 15 cameras.

"It's about $800 for a camera and a solar panel, and it's about $2,000 for the pole installation," Thompson said.

Original Story: A Montgomery County man faces multiple felony charges after investigators say he damaged or destroyed eight flock surveillance cameras, including two owned by Lowe's.

Robert West Taylor, 44, was taken into custody Sunday evening following a joint investigation by the Mt. Sterling Police Department and Winchester Police.

The Mt. Sterling Police Department first received notification of a damaged FLOCK camera on Aug. 15, 2026. Since then, a total of eight cameras were destroyed or tampered with in Montgomery County — six belonging to the police department and two privately owned by Lowe's.

On Sept. 20, 2026, investigators with both agencies discovered a total of nine cameras had been destroyed overnight across Montgomery County and Clark County. The agencies teamed up and began a joint investigation.

Using nearby security cameras and FLOCK license plate readers, investigators identified a suspect. Around 6:40 p.m., investigators and officers executed a search warrant at 201 S. Queen St. and took West into custody without incident.

During the search, investigators located the clothing worn, tools used, the vehicle used, and other identifiable evidence linking West to the crimes.

In Montgomery County, Taylor faces the following charges:

• Eight counts of Criminal Mischief — 1st Degree
• Six counts of Obstructing Governmental Operations

Charges from Clark County are being addressed by Winchester Police and possibly other jurisdictions, as the investigation is ongoing.

Mt. Sterling Police Chief Aaron Sterling shared the following statement:

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