License plate recognition technology helped the Huntsville Police Department arrest a violent fugitive and safely recover a missing 16-year-old in two separate cases last week, according to police.
In the first case, officers arrested a fugitive wanted out of Atlanta on a violent felony charge after investigators entered a vehicle’s license plate number into the department’s LPR system.
Police said HPD’s Patrol Division and the North Alabama Multi-Agency Crime Center were alerted Feb. 16 around 4:30 p.m. that the suspect could be in the area. After identifying a vehicle associated with the individual, officers entered the plate into the system and confirmed the vehicle was in Huntsville.
The suspect was located and arrested within three hours without incident, police said.
In a separate case Feb. 19, authorities were notified of a missing 16-year-old from Kentucky believed to be traveling with a man wanted in Logan County, Kentucky, on charges including kidnapping, interference with child custody and unlawful acts with a minor.
Police said license plate data showed the vehicle had recently been in Huntsville and was traveling toward Ardmore. That information was shared with the Ardmore Police Department, which located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
Officers later learned the teen had been left at a business on University Drive. She was located safely just over an hour after the initial alert, and arrangements were made for her return home.
“When time matters most, having the right tools in place allows our officers to act quickly and protect lives,” HPD Chief Kirk Giles said. “These cases show how technology, combined with strong police work and partnerships, is helping us deliver real results for our community.”
HPD said it works with local, state and federal agencies and uses license plate recognition technology as part of broader investigative efforts.
License plate recognition systems — sometimes referred to as automated LPR or ALPR — have drawn debate in some communities over privacy and data retention policies. Supporters argue the technology helps locate stolen vehicles, fugitives and missing persons more quickly, while critics raise concerns about surveillance and long-term data storage.
HPD said it remains committed to using technology responsibly while strengthening partnerships that enhance public safety.
