 The complaint further claimed that use of the device, which can disrupt cell networks, disproportionately affected African-American neighborhoods in Baltimore.The Stingray had been used by Baltimore police thousands of times during investigations ranging from theft to violent crimes.On August 24, 2017, the U.S. District Court of Northern California ruled in "United States v. Ellis" that the use of a Stingray constituted a search that requires a warrant, but did not suppress the evidence based on exigent circumstances and good faith exception.