How surveillance technology led police to charge the wrong person
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Most people never expect a police officer’s knock on the door to change their life. However, that’s exactly what happened to Chrisanna Elser in the Denver area of Colorado, near the small towns of Bow Mar and Columbine Valley.
An officer with the Columbine Valley Police Department arrived at her home and accused her of stealing a $25 package from a porch in the neighboring town of Bow Mar, Colorado.
The officer said the surveillance technology pointed directly to his vehicle, a forest green Rivian R1T electric pickup truck. But Chrisanna insists she never stole anything.
What followed became a real-world lesson in modern surveillance. Doorbell cameras, license plate readers and phone location data suddenly became evidence in a case she had to fight herself.
CALIFORNIA PORCH PIRATE CAUGHT STEALING SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS INSTALLED TO CATCH HIM
Flock cameras are used in cities across the country as license plate readers. A Colorado woman was charged with porch burglary after police relied on surveillance technology, including Flock cameras, that incorrectly linked her vehicle to the scene. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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At the time the accusation began
Chrisanna recently joined me on my Beyond Connected podcast to explain the moment it all started. She remembers the day clearly. “So I went to bed because I had a headache and my husband came in and said, ‘There’s a police officer here to help you.’
The officer told him a package had been stolen from a home about 1.3 miles away in Bow Mar, Colorado. The officer who confronted her was Sgt. Jamie Milliman of the Columbine Valley Police Department, which provides police services for both Columbine Valley and Bow Mar.
He believed she was responsible. The accusation was based on surveillance tools used in the area. According to the officer, Flock’s license plate reader cameras had captured his forest green Rivian driving through Bow Mar between 11:52 a.m. and 12:09 p.m. on the day of the robbery.
Body camera footage captured the officer describing the city’s monitoring network. “You can’t get a breath of fresh air in or out of that place without us knowing.”
Chrisanna said she tried to show the officer evidence that she had nothing to do with the robbery. But she says he wouldn’t check it. “And basically, he continued starting with that. I was lying to him. I never lied to him even once.”
Instead, the officer issued a summons ordering him to appear in court in Jefferson County, Colorado.
The porch camera video that sparked the case
Chrisanna later found the video that sparked the accusation. Neighbors had posted the porch camera footage on the community app Nextdoor while trying to identify the thief. At first, she could understand why police thought the suspect looked like her. “When I saw the video from afar, I thought, wow, I guess that looks like me.”
But the more I examined the images, the more differences I noticed. “He was significantly younger and had the bottom slightly shaved below his head.” The suspect ran away from the house and disappeared off camera.
Importantly, the person in the video fled on foot and did not get into any vehicle, something that contradicted the police theory about Elser’s truck. Still, the investigation continued.
COLORADO WOMAN CHASES ‘PROCK PIRATE’ AND EMBARRASSES HER IN VIDEO
Chrisanna Elser’s situation highlights how surveillance tools can generate leads but still require human verification to avoid errors. (Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
What really is a Flock camera
One of the technologies involved in the research was a flock camera. Flock cameras are automated license plate reading systems manufactured by the company Flock Safety. Cities and neighborhoods across the United States install them at intersections and neighborhood entrances.
They automatically capture:
- License plate numbers
- Vehicle color and approximate vehicle type.
- Date, time and place
Police departments can search the camera network to see when a vehicle passed certain locations. In Bow Mar and Columbine Valley, Colorado, Columbine Valley Police use cameras to help identify vehicles related to investigations.
The systems are designed to help solve crimes such as stolen vehicles, kidnappings and hit-and-run cases. But they generate investigative leads, not evidence.
Chrisanna’s case shows what can happen when technology is treated as a conclusion rather than a starting point.
The Overlooked Camera That Could Have Cleared Her Up
Chrisanna started doing something she never expected. She herself began to investigate the accusation. While reviewing the evidence, he discovered something critical. His truck had been parked directly in front of another Flock surveillance camera controlled by the city of Bo Mar the entire time police claimed he committed the robbery.
“Actually, my truck was parked right in front of a Flock camera in my neighbor’s driveway the entire time.” If investigators had checked that camera first, the case could have ended immediately.
The hidden phone feature that helped prove his innocence
Chrisanna also discovered other evidence hidden in her own phone. It was a feature called Google Location Timeline.
The setting tracks where your phone travels if location history is enabled. “Wherever your phone is, if you have your timeline on, it will track you,” Chrisanna said. In his case, it helped reconstruct exactly where he had been that day.
He later discovered that data showed he had visited a tailor outside Bow Mar for a midday appointment located more than a quarter of a mile from the scene of the robbery.
A Columbine Valley police officer questions Chrisanna Elser on her porch near Bow Mar, Colorado. Police later dropped the case after reviewing new evidence showing Elser’s vehicle was parked during the alleged crime. (Columbine Valley Police Department)
How Chrisanna Built the Timeline That Cleared Her
Chrisanna gathered multiple sources of evidence to show where he had really been.
His evidence included:
• Google Location Timeline Data
• Flock Camera Images
• Photos of other stops you made that day.
• Video from on-board cameras and your own vehicle’s GPS system
She built a timeline and sent the evidence to the police. Eventually, Columbine Valley Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed the information and responded via email. Chrisanna read the message she received.
“Hi Anna. After reviewing the evidence you’ve provided (well done, by the way), we rescinded the subpoena that was issued. We’ve double checked with the Jefferson County Courts and the case has not yet been entered into the system, therefore there is no record on file. Thank you for contacting us with the evidence you said you could provide. Sincerely, Bret.”
After about two weeks, the citation was vacated and the case was dismissed. The actual porch theft was never solved, Chrisanna said. The officer involved was later formally reprimanded and ordered to complete additional training, according to internal police documents.
We reached out to the Columbine Valley Police Department for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.
How someone could get images from the Flock camera
Many people assume that they cannot access surveillance footage used by police. In some cases and jurisdictions, they can do so. For example, in Colorado, residents can request certain government records under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), the state public records law similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Chrisanna said her husband suggested requesting the images through public records laws. “If the city, if they’re watching you, you can pass a Freedom of Information Act.” While FOIA technically applies to federal agencies, people often use the term to describe public records requests more broadly.
Steps to request images from Flock camera
- Identify the police department that operates the cameras.
- Submit a public records or FOIA request
- Include the date, time and place you need
- Request records related to the body camera or license plate reader, if necessary
Access rules vary by state and department. Still, footage may be available when the cameras are owned by a city or town.
Technology still needs human judgment
Chrisanna doesn’t think surveillance tools should go away. But she thinks they need clear guardrails. “They are a useful tool, but they do not replace police work as it was in this case,” he said.
Technology can help solve crimes and protect communities. However, when researchers rely on them without verifying the facts, errors can occur.
DOORBELL-CAM COMPANY RING PARTNERS WITH 405 POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS US TO SHARE IMAGES AND FIGHT CRIME
Data from the license plate reader and doorbell images led police to charge the wrong suspect before new evidence cleared them up. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
How to turn Google location timeline on or off
Chrisanna used Google’s location timeline as part of the evidence that helped prove where she was on the day of the alleged robbery. Many people don’t know this feature exists, but you can check it out at any time through Google Maps.
Steps to check the Google location timeline
- Open the google maps application
- touch your profile icon at the top right
- Select Your timeline
- Touch the three point menu either Further
- Tap Location and privacy settings
- Fold Timeline/Location History in either off
If enabled, Google Maps can store a record of where your phone has been. Some people use it to remember trips or travel routes. Others prefer to disable it for privacy reasons. Either way, the data can become important if you ever need d show where you were at a certain time.
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Most people assume that surveillance protects them. Doorbell cameras catch porch pirates. License plate readers track stolen cars. Phone location data helps people track their trips. But Chrisanna’s experience reveals another side to technology. Data can suggest conclusions before researchers verify them. And when that happens, the accused person may have to gather their own evidence. His conclusion is simple. “If they have evidence on you, you should have evidence on yourself.” To learn more about Chrisanna’s story and the full conversation, you can listen to or watch the full episode on the Beyond Connected podcast at getbeyondconnected.com.
Let me leave you with this question. If technology ever pointed the finger at you tomorrow, would you have the data necessary to prove where you really are? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning technology journalist with a deep love for technology, gear and devices that improve lives with his contributions to News and News Business since mornings on “News & Friends.” Do you have any technical questions? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment on CyberGuy.com.