WATERFORD, MICHIGAN — A 24-year-old Clarkston man is facing felony charges after police say he damaged roughly $10,000 worth of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in Waterford — only to be identified using the same technology.
Authorities identified the suspect as Spencer Anderson, who was arrested Thursday, February 26, by detectives with the Waterford Police Special Operations Unit.
Investigation Began After Cameras Went Dark
Police said the investigation started Monday, February 23, when several ALPR cameras in the area were found inactive.
Officers conducted a physical inspection and determined that multiple cameras had been forcibly removed from their mounts and smashed.
The damaged equipment, according to police estimates, totaled approximately $10,000 in destruction.
Technology Helped Identify Suspect
Detectives say one of the damaged ALPR cameras captured an image of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate at the time the cameras were destroyed.
Video footage from nearby businesses reportedly shows a lone individual exiting a vehicle and using a blunt object to strike two separate cameras until they broke apart.
Police say ALPR technology collects images of vehicles and license plates to assist in investigations and public safety efforts.
Charges Filed in Oakland County
Anderson has been charged with three counts of Malicious Destruction of Police Property. Each charge is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
In addition to the criminal charges, authorities say the department plans to seek full restitution for the damage.
He was arraigned in the 51st District Court before Judge Todd Fox and was released on a $500 cash bond.
Anderson is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause conference on March 11, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
Case Moving Forward
The case highlights the role of surveillance technology in modern policing — and how investigators say it was instrumental in identifying a suspect accused of destroying public safety equipment.
Authorities have not released additional details as the case proceeds through the court system.
Readers can stay updated on major public safety and legal developments at GordonRamsayClub.com as this case moves forward in Oakland County.
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