{
  "version": "3.33",
  "compiled": "2026-10-09",
  "site": "https://stateofwatch.com",
  "claim": {
    "id": "bell-suppression",
    "section": 5,
    "title": "Commonwealth v. Bell: Norfolk court holds Flock collection is a search",
    "date": "May 10, 2024",
    "sort": "2024-05-10",
    "status": "verified",
    "checked": "3.16",
    "note": "Order read directly (v3.16). Whether Bell was separately appealed is not known.",
    "category": "court",
    "body": "Commonwealth v. Jayvon Antonio Bell, Case No. CR23001500-00, -01, -02 (Norfolk Cir. Ct., Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise), reported at 113 Va. Cir. 316 (2024). Police used a Flock hit to tie a getaway vehicle to robberies across Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth, then ran the plate through DMV records, all without a warrant. The court granted suppression, reasoning from Carpenter and Jones and citing Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. The \"172 cameras, 30-day retention\" figures used in Bell and Church come from The Virginian-Pilot, June 19, 2023.",
    "quotes": [
      {
        "text": "the collection and storage of license plate and location information by the FLOCK system constitutes a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and should require a warrant",
        "from": "Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise, Order Granting Motion to Suppress"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "label": "Commonwealth v. Bell, Case No. CR23001500 (Norfolk Cir. Ct.)",
        "primary": true,
        "docket": "CR23001500",
        "doc": "bell-norfolk"
      }
    ],
    "places": [
      "norfolk-va"
    ],
    "url": "https://stateofwatch.com/claims/bell-suppression"
  }
}