Full Breakdown
Colorado Woman Sues Police and Surveillance Firm Over Misidentified Package Theft
By Drooid · · How we work
Misidentification Incident and Lawsuit
In September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman visited Chrisanna Elser’s home in Denver’s Fort Logan neighborhood and handed her a summons accusing her of stealing a package from Bow Mar. Milliman said a Flock Safety camera had captured Elser’s Rivian truck near the theft site and asserted he had “zero doubt” about her involvement. Elser provided phone-location data and dash-camera footage showing she was at a tailor’s shop at the time. Door-bell video posted on Nextdoor showed a different woman fleeing the scene. The summons was voided in October 2025, but the police department did not release the alleged video evidence. Elser filed a federal suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, naming Sgt. Milliman, Police Chief Bret Cottrell, the towns of Columbine Valley and Bow Mar, and Flock Safety. The complaint alleges negligence, invasion of privacy, unlawful search, and Fourth-Amendment violations, seeking unspecified damages.
Background on Flock Safety Surveillance
Flock Safety operates one of the nation’s largest private-sector surveillance networks, deploying more than 120,000 cameras that capture roughly 20 billion license-plate images each month. The system records continuous vehicle movements and, according to the lawsuit, can retrieve a person’s complete travel history instantly. The technology is marketed as an “investigative tool,” but the suit contends the company’s design lacks safeguards such as warrant requirements before officers access its database.
Timeline of Key Events
- September 2025 – Sgt. Milliman confronts Elser with a summons based on Flock data.
- October 2025 – The summons is voided after Elser submits location evidence.
- November 2025 – Town Administrator J.D. McCrumb defends Milliman’s “reasonable belief” and notes exculpatory evidence arrived two weeks later.
- 2025 (later) – Police Chief Cottrell writes a letter admonishing Milliman for rude behavior.
- September 14 2026 – A Flock camera is mounted in Glendale, California, illustrating network expansion.
- 2026 – Elser’s lawsuit is filed, naming the officer, police chiefs, municipalities, and Flock Safety.
Data & Statistics on the Flock System
- 120,000+ cameras deployed nationwide.
- ?20 billion license-plate reads captured monthly.
- The system allegedly creates a “detailed, continuous record” of individual movements.
Official Statements & Responses
- Town Administrator J.D. McCrumb said Milliman acted on a “reasonable belief” when issuing the summons and that the town would consider disciplinary action.
- Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel asserted that the system correctly identified the location of Elser’s vehicle and that law-enforcement agencies remain responsible for interpreting the data.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No public comment has been received from the towns of Bow Mar or Columbine Valley, nor from the Columbine Valley Police Department, leaving the municipal response unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The scariest part is what happened to me can happen to anyone,” — Chrisanna Elser
- “We have cameras throughout the town you can't take a breath of fresh air in or out without us knowing,” — Sgt. Jamie Milliman
- “ "As noted in the complaint, the Flock system accurately identified the location of Ms.” — Paris Lewbel
What’s Next
The case proceeds in federal court, where the plaintiffs seek damages and a declaration that Flock’s surveillance practices violate constitutional rights. No court-scheduled hearing dates have been disclosed.