HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – February 13, 2026 - The Hollister Police Department executed an arrest warrant issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by utilizing the Flock Safety License Plate Reader (LPR).
On February 11, 2026, the Hollister Police Department was contacted by the Allegheny County Police Department, which had secured an arrest warrant for Michael Anthony Vaca following an extensive investigation into allegations of 55 offenses, including sexual extortion, terroristic threats, stalking, criminal coercion, and harassment.
Recognizing the severity of the charges, Hollister officers immediately confirmed the warrant and coordinated with Pennsylvania authorities. Officers entered the suspect vehicle’s information into the Flock Safety License Plate Reader (LPR) system to assist in locating Vaca.
At approximately 3:02 p.m. on February 12, officers received an immediate, real-time alert from the Flock Safety LPR system indicating the suspect vehicle was traveling within the City of Hollister. Officers quickly converged on the area of the alert and located the vehicle in the 800 block of Buena Vista Road. A traffic stop was conducted without incident, and Vaca was safely taken into custody.
Vaca was subsequently transported to the San Benito County Jail for booking and to complete the extradition proceedings to Pennsylvania.
This case demonstrates how critical real-time technology and strong interagency partnerships are in today’s law enforcement environment. The Flock Safety License Plate Reader system gave our officers immediate, actionable information that allowed them to safely locate and arrest a suspect accused of serious crimes. Our priority is protecting our community and ensuring individuals who may pose a threat are held accountable, no matter where the warrant originates.
This arrest underscores the powerful combination of proactive police work, interstate collaboration, and responsible technology use. The rapid notification provided by the Flock Safety LPR system enabled officers to act swiftly to remove a wanted suspect from the streets.
The Hollister Police Department remains committed to transparency and privacy protections. Flock Safety LPR data collected in Hollister is not shared with federal agencies or agencies outside the State of California.
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Prepared by: Sergeant Staci Esqueda
Approved by: Chief Carlos Reynoso Case # 26-0268
