Man accused of destroying Flock cameras in Clark, Montgomery counties released on bond

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A man accused of destroying or tampering with multiple Flock safety cameras across central Kentucky did not appear for his scheduled court appearance Monday after posting bond over the weekend.

Robert West Taylor was scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday in Clark County District Court. However, court staff and Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson confirmed Taylor posted a $20,000 bond and was released from custody Saturday.

According to police, Taylor destroyed or tampered with eight Flock cameras across Montgomery and Clark counties between Aug. 15 and Sept. 20.

Investigators from multiple agencies coordinated to identify a suspect in the string of vandalism cases.

“We kind of started putting the pieces together, we started reviewing some footage, we started working with Mount Sterling to try to identify a suspect and a suspect vehicle,” Chief Thompson said.

Taylor was initially arrested about a week ago and charged by both Mount Sterling and Winchester police departments. Shortly after that arrest, Taylor was released in Montgomery County on a zero-dollar bond.

However, the Clark County District Court Office determined Taylor was “released inappropriately through guidelines of administrative pretrial services.” A Clark County judge then issued a new arrest warrant and set bond at $20,000.

Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson said officers took Taylor back into custody on Sept. 24.

“It was important to us as a victim of this particular crime, of this criminal mischief, that our bases were covered, that everything was properly in the system and that bond was applied appropriately,” Thompson said.

Thompson estimated the damage to the Flock cameras ranges between $16,000 and $20,000, noting the bond amount was set to potentially cover those repair costs.

As a condition of his release, Taylor is placed on home incarceration.

“Home incarceration -- so you’re incarcerated at your home, at an address approved by the judge, so he’ll be limited to that,” Thompson said.

Taylor is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Nov. 16.