License plate reader know-how led El Cajon Police to murder suspect

EL CAJON (KGTV) — One photograph led officers to the placement and arrest of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem on Thursday night. El Cajon Police say Abdulkareem shot three folks at a dentist’s workplace, killing one.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s workplace recognized the sufferer on Friday as Benjamin Ariel Harouni, a 28-year-old San Diego man.

“There was clearly a public security concern with this individual being on the unfastened,” Chief Mike Moulton mentioned.

Moulton says witnesses reported Abdulkareem driving away in a white U-Corridor pickup truck.

“We have been in a position to entry our license plate reader system and rapidly determine that automotive in our metropolis,” Moulton mentioned.

El Cajon’s license plate reader system is related to forty cameras positioned at busy intersections throughout the town. Chief Moulton instructed me one of many cameras on Mollison and Madison took the image of Abdulkareem’s getaway automotive. In consequence, officers have been in a position to find the automotive and shooter close by rapidly.

“It has an excellent use for public security after we’re searching for harmful folks,” Moulton mentioned.

El Cajon put in these cameras in August. Since then, Moulton mentioned they’ve led to 108 arrests, largely related to stolen vehicles. Police say officers additionally used them to assist resolve a double murder at a Halloween occasion final yr.

“How is that info being saved? How is it being shared?” requested Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, a coverage director at Alliance San Diego.

A couple of months in the past, organizations like Alliance San Diego raised privateness considerations.

“We want to ensure they’re guaranteeing the privateness rights of all of us, and so they’re complying with state regulation,” Tsurumoto Grassi mentioned.

El Cajon Police say these cameras seize nonetheless photos of the backsides of vehicles. They do not file video, pace, or faces; the pictures are solely used when related to crime. The license plate reader program is scheduled to finish in three years, however Moulton says they’ve seen super success and expects it to proceed utilizing it additional down the road.