RIO RANCHO, NM — A Rio Rancho man was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he arrived at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office headquarters with multiple Flock cameras in the back of his pickup truck. Officials identified him as Jevon Martinez, who was already facing felony charges tied to damage involving the automated license plate readers in Rio Rancho earlier this year.
According to authorities, Martinez had also posted social media videos that appeared to show him driving around Albuquerque and taking down additional Flock cameras. In the videos, he argued the devices should no longer be operating after the sheriff’s office ended its contract with Flock last month. The arrest adds another chapter to a dispute that has drawn attention well beyond Bernalillo County.
What deputies say happened outside the sheriff’s office
Authorities said Martinez showed up at the sheriff’s office headquarters with the cameras already loaded in his truck. The incident happened Wednesday, and a BCSO spokesperson said it remains under investigation. Officials did not immediately say how many cameras were recovered or exactly where they came from.
Martinez has said publicly that he was not stealing or destroying the cameras. In one video, he said he was “simply returning them to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department.” He also said he did not view his actions as criminal, arguing that he was removing equipment he believed should no longer be on the street.
Martinez says his fight is with Flock, not the sheriff’s office
Martinez, who uses the name “Johnvon Thechamp” on social media, has framed his campaign around opposition to Flock rather than the sheriff’s office itself. He said the company’s cameras are part of a broader system he believes amounts to government overreach.
Flock’s automated license plate readers can track vehicle locations and store identifying information, which has fueled controversy in communities across the country. Concerns have also been raised about law enforcement misuse, including claims that officers have used the technology for personal reasons such as tracking former romantic partners. Martinez has repeatedly tied those concerns to his online messaging.
Sheriff Allen ended three Flock contracts in late August
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said in late August that he decided to terminate three contracts with Flock. In an Aug. 24 interview with 4 Investigates, he said networks that large can become difficult to control and raised concerns about whether the system is truly secure.
Allen said he was no longer comfortable saying the network met his standards for security. His decision placed the agency among a growing number of departments nationwide that have ended relationships with the company this year. The timing is significant because Martinez has leaned on that contract change in his own online justification for removing cameras.
Social media videos showed more camera removals in Albuquerque
Before his arrest, Martinez posted videos that appeared to show him driving around Albuquerque and taking down additional automated license plate readers. In those posts, he argued that because the sheriff’s office had dropped its contract with Flock, the cameras no longer belonged on public streets.
He also described his actions in political and philosophical terms, saying he was “liberating” people from what he called tyranny. Martinez has a history of posting about what he sees as governmental overreach and has referred to Flock cameras as “tyranny trees.” His videos have helped push the dispute into the public eye even as law enforcement has continued to investigate his actions.
Felony case already pending from the Rio Rancho incident
Court records show Martinez already has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 22 in the Rio Rancho case. He is facing nine felony charges connected to that matter, including multiple counts of larceny, criminal damage to property and tampering with evidence.
Those close to him in a group calling itself the Republic of New Mexico said they are concerned about his safety while he is in custody and want to make sure he receives due process. Lucas Gauthier said the group’s members were watching the situation closely. For now, investigators have not said whether Wednesday’s arrest will lead to additional charges.
How the Republic of New Mexico movement fits into the dispute
Martinez has also spoken publicly about the Republic of New Mexico, a movement he says is meant to call attention to what he describes as unconstitutional actions. Supporters say his online activism reflects broader frustration with surveillance technology and government authority.
That message has become part of the backdrop to the criminal case and the sheriff’s office investigation. Even as the county has stepped away from some Flock agreements, the confrontation has continued through social media posts, public statements and the physical removal of cameras. The case now sits at the intersection of surveillance, property damage and a fast-moving online campaign.
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