ALPR camera data error causes innocent woman’s 13-day wrongful imprisonment in Florida

A Florida woman endured 13 days in jail, including time in solitary confinement, after police mistakenly identified her vehicle as being involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash. Lindsey Brooke Isaacs, then 23, was asleep at home when law enforcement arrived, informing her that her black Dodge Durango was implicated in an accident that claimed three lives. Despite her immediate assertions of innocence, a lack of vehicle damage, and an alibi, investigators proceeded with her arrest, highlighting growing concerns about the reliance on automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology in critical criminal investigations.

Misidentification and ignored evidence

The tragic incident occurred on October 4, 2025, on eastbound Interstate 4 near DeBary, Florida, resulting in the deaths of motorcyclist Joaquin Deno and Flagler County Deputy Administrator Jorge Salinas and his wife, Nancy Salinas. Witnesses initially reported a Dodge Durango’s involvement. Investigators subsequently located Isaacs’ black Dodge Durango using a Flock automated license plate reader. The camera recorded her vehicle traveling eastbound near the Seminole and Volusia county line at 9:51 p.m., approximately three miles west of the crash site, which occurred around 9:53 p.m.

This timing became a crucial point of contention. Isaacs’ attorney, Patrick McGeehan, conducted a time-distance analysis, concluding that Isaacs’ vehicle had already passed the crash location when the collision happened. However, this finding was initially overlooked by authorities. Isaacs herself recounted her confusion and frustration, stating, “They just picked up my car off a camera and called it the end of the day. We got her.”

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Several pieces of evidence that contradicted the initial ALPR finding were apparently disregarded during the early stages of the investigation:

• A 911 caller described a *maroon* Dodge Durango, providing a partial license plate number.
• Investigators later discovered red or maroon paint transfer on a Ford Focus involved in the crash, consistent with a vehicle of that color.
• Lindsey Isaacs drove a *black* Dodge Durango, not maroon.
• A specialized Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) team inspected Isaacs’ SUV and reported no damage consistent with a collision.

Isaacs repeatedly questioned the police about the absence of damage to her vehicle, a concern that went unaddressed as her SUV was impounded. Months passed without resolution, leading to a profound sense of injustice and fear for Isaacs.

Arrest, incarceration, and eventual exoneration

On April 17, 2026, Isaacs received a call from her attorney, informing her that she needed to surrender to authorities that day. She faced eight felony charges: three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, one count of leaving the scene involving serious bodily injury, and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. Isaacs spent 13 harrowing days in jail. She described her initial days in solitary confinement, isolated from other inmates due to the severity of her charges, with minimal amenities: a toilet, a sink, and a metal sleeping slab covered by a thin mat.

After her first bond hearing, Isaacs remained incarcerated, feeling “devastated” and “scared,” believing her life was over. The case finally shifted directions after prosecutors and a specialized FHP team re-examined the evidence. This review confirmed no meaningful crash damage on Isaacs’ Durango. Investigators then revisited witness statements and pursued leads pointing to a different vehicle.

On May 22, the State Attorney’s Office formally dropped all eight charges against Isaacs. Subsequently, authorities arrested Alisa Lee Montalvo in connection with the crash. Prosecutors allege Montalvo was driving a maroon Dodge Durango and faces nine charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide and tampering with physical evidence. Montalvo has not yet been convicted, and the charges remain allegations.

Lasting impact and legal recourse

For Lindsey Isaacs, the news of her exoneration brought immense relief, making her feel “like a new woman” and “free.” She later received an in-person apology from the head of the Florida Highway Patrol, an act she described as “a miracle.” However, the ordeal left profound and lasting emotional and physical effects. Isaacs noted that the recovery from this experience would likely take “years to get better mentally, physically, emotionally.”

Her case underscores a critical question regarding the appropriate weight investigators should assign to automated license plate camera data, especially when an individual’s freedom is at stake. While Flock Safety maintains that its cameras “provide investigative leads,” the incident involving Isaacs highlights the potential for misinterpretation and wrongful accusations if such data is not thoroughly corroborated with other evidence.

In response to her wrongful arrest and imprisonment, Isaacs has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against two Florida Highway Patrol troopers involved in the investigation. The lawsuit alleges false arrest, wrongful imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. These claims have not yet been proven in court, but the legal action seeks to address the profound injustices she experienced and to hold those responsible accountable for the failures in the investigative process.