GREEN BAY, Wis. (Diya TV) — Wisconsin law enforcement officers used data from Flock Safety license plate cameras to track a man’s repeated trips to Michigan before stopping and searching his vehicle for marijuana, according to court records.
The records show that investigators relied on vehicle tracking data to support probable cause for the traffic stop. Authorities later arrested Edward Abrams-Phillips on marijuana possession charges. Court records show that prosecutors dismissed a separate bail jumping charge tied to a domestic violence case. He was ultimately convicted only on the marijuana charge.
The case has drawn attention because investigators used automated license plate reader data to monitor travel across state lines. The documents state that officers reviewed previous vehicle sightings and concluded that Abrams-Phillips regularly drove between Wisconsin and Michigan. Since Michigan allows recreational marijuana, investigators viewed those trips as part of the basis for the search.
According to the criminal complaint, officers tracked Abrams-Phillips’ vehicle throughout the day in April 2025. The complaint says the vehicle traveled north from Wisconsin into Michigan before returning south several hours later. Investigators then coordinated with deputies to stop the vehicle after it crossed back into Wisconsin.
The complaint states that the vehicle appeared several times on Flock Safety cameras. Officers said the cameras recorded the vehicle traveling north on Interstate 41 through Marinette, Wisconsin, before entering Michigan. Investigators also noted that earlier Flock records showed similar trips to Michigan.
Later that afternoon, officers saw the vehicle heading south on Interstate 41 toward Green Bay through the Flock camera network. Deputies then worked together to locate the vehicle before initiating a traffic stop. The complaint says the driver matched the description of Abrams-Phillips.
After the stop, officers searched the vehicle and found marijuana, according to court records. Authorities arrested Abrams-Phillips and charged him with marijuana possession. While prosecutors initially included a bail jumping charge connected to an earlier domestic violence case, court records show that charge did not move forward. Instead, the marijuana possession conviction became the only outcome in the case.
Flock Safety operates a nationwide network of automated license plate reader cameras. The system captures images of passing vehicles and records details such as license plate numbers, vehicle color, and travel direction. Law enforcement agencies use the technology to investigate crimes, locate stolen vehicles, and identify suspects.
However, privacy advocates have raised concerns about how agencies use the technology. Critics argue that broad tracking capabilities may allow police to monitor people’s movements without sufficient oversight. They also question whether frequent travel to another state should contribute to probable cause for a vehicle search.
Supporters of automated license plate reader systems say the technology helps officers solve crimes more quickly and improves public safety. They argue that investigators still must follow legal standards before conducting searches or making arrests.
For now, the court records show that investigators relied on repeated Flock camera detections, combined with the vehicle’s return from Michigan, to justify the traffic stop.
