San Diego police arrested Hugo Parra on felony charges in November in connection with an attempted carjacking at gunpoint. Police later dropped the charges after Flock license plate reader data indicated Parra's vehicle was miles away from the crime scene at the time of the incident.
Parra and Ariel Beltran, the vehicle owner, filed a $3 million tort claim against the city in April. The city denied the tort claims.
Police were searching for a red Alfa Romeo with tinted windows and a suspect in a gray hoodie. Parra was wearing a white hoodie and was riding in a friend's red Alfa Romeo at the time. Officers did not obtain a partial or full license plate number for the suspect vehicle during a pursuit. A witness identified Parra in a police lineup based on his jacket, facial hair, and skin color.
Parra was detained in jail for approximately one month until the felony charges were dropped. He was on probation at the time of his arrest. "I was in disbelief. Sitting in jail, I was full of fear and adrenaline because I was being charged with a violent crime. I was placed with a high-power, dangerous population." Parra said. He added, "I remember all the horrible accusations being said by the district attorney and judge about me, and how I was a dangerous threat to the public."
The tort claim requests $1.5 million in damages for each individual. Parra and Beltran alleged negligence and civil rights violations against the city. Attorney Alex Coolman said, "This Flock hit was obviously the wrong car, as it could not have been in both places simultaneously."
Coolman also stated, "Mass surveillance without any sense of skepticism, or common sense, is a recipe for disaster." A Flock camera alert was logged 23 seconds after police attempted to stop the suspect vehicle in Golden Hill. Detective Gary Gonzales reported that he matched the Flock camera image to the suspect vehicle based on its red paint and black tinted windows.
The department entered a $7 million contract with Flock Systems and Ubicquia for camera installation in November 2023. This contract includes an annual maintenance fee of $2 million for Flock camera access. A 2024 Flock product presentation indicated that cameras record vehicle make, decals, body type, and bumper stickers to create a vehicle profile. The department evaluated a pilot program for a Flock data-integration platform in December 2025; however, the department stated it would not implement the Flock Nova platform.