Paul Kim, the man accused of shooting up Teslas and setting three of ‘em on fire, was denied bail in court Friday. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
The investigation leading up to the arrest is fascinating in its own right. “We had nothing to go on,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. “It crossed my mind that this might be one of those cases that we may not be able to solve.”
McMahill credits new technology for turning things around, specifically mentioning the Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) system as a pivotal device for tracking down his suspect.
🤔 How Does It Work?
Flock Safety’s signature license plate reader, the Falcon, has a camera that can identify vehicles and send alerts to law enforcement in real time. (Side note: The devices also have the ability to detect gunshots.)
🎰 Success in Vegas
After the Tesla attack, police knew the suspect was seen in a black sedan — and not much else. A plate reader in the area detected a vehicle that matched the description around the time of the fires — and police used DNA and cellphone data to further connect Kim to the crime. Investigators say he recently bought a gun that matched bullet fragments near the fires.
🚘 Was Kim Aware His Car was Tracked?
It appears he knew it was at least a possibility. Police say Kim contacted his insurance company less than three hours after the fires on March 18 to claim his vehicle was stolen. Kim was arrested on March 27 at a cybersecurity convention inside the Venetian, suggesting he’s more tech-savvy than the average Molotov cocktail aficionado.
👁️ Vegas Surveillance
There are roughly 180 Flock Safety plate readers throughout Las Vegas, financed by a donation of more than $6 million by Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm. The money also went towards Skydio drones, which can monitor cars detected by plate readers until police arrive.
👎 Is This Bad?
Critics say the technology violates personal privacy and contributes to an intrusive surveillance state. A lawsuit filed in Virginia argues the ability to track a person without a warrant for more than 30 days violates the Fourth Amendment.
👍 Is This Good?
Police claim the cameras don’t capture anything inside the vehicle or utilize facial recognition technology. The system also saves time and minimizes unnecessary stops of law-abiding drivers. Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz says the plate readers increased stolen vehicle alerts by 48% and suspect arrests by 17% in Metro’s jurisdiction.
👀 What’s Next?
Horowitz continues to have a close relationship with Metro and recently donated a fleet of Tesla vehicles to the department. Sheriff McMahill wants to use traffic cameras to crack down on speeding and see his team “become the most technologically advanced police department in the country.”
- Will red light cameras really make Nevada roads safer? [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
