EL CAJON, Calif. — El Cajon has a total of 40 cameras across the city attached to light and traffic poles and this camera on North Mollison Rd was able to capture the vehicle driven by the man that police say shot three people, giving officers a vital clue that led to his arrest.
El Cajon police are crediting the use of technology in helping them catch the man they say opened fire at a dentist office Thursday evening.
After the deadly shooting broke out, a tip from a witness led police to believe the suspected gunman had taken off in a white U-Haul.
El Cajon police were able to use the city's Flock license plate readers to get a picture of the truck with Arizona plates.
The photo was quickly sent out to the public and played a vital role in helping police locate the gunman.
El Cajon Police Captain Rob Ransweiler said they were able to obtain the license plate information from the Flock cameras after the U-haul left the area.
"We never saw the suspect on scene but we were able to use that technology to identify the vehicle and confirm that it was rented by the suspect," he said.
It took police a little less than 6 hours to arrest 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem.
It's not the first time automated license plate readers have been helpful in catching criminals.
Since the technology was implemented in late July of last year, the department says the readers have made a huge difference in recovering stolen cars, including 50 stolen vehicles recovered within three months.
"It's showing results and it's helpful," Ransweiler said.
The technology works by capturing the license plate and then running it through a database. If there's a hit, police get notified immediately.
However, the technology has faced controversy due to privacy concerns.
Neighbors like Angela Wiltfong said she'd rather be safe than sorry. "It's really beneficial, it's not super invasive and it's only used when it's absolutely necessary. It doesn't hurt to have it."
The department has agreed to be transparent with the technology and insists it's proving to be a valuable tool.
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