Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Allegedly Stopping Female Drivers and Inspecting Their Smartphones for Explicit Images
Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Allegedly Stopping Female Drivers and Inspecting Their Smartphones for Explicit Images
In two distinct legal proceedings, ex-law enforcement officials from Missouri have been charged with stopping ladies and subsequently scouring their cell phones for naked images.
On a Tuesday, a 39-year-old ex-patrol trooper from Missouri State Highway Patrol, David McKnight, was brought before a grand jury by a U.S. District Court, according to a statement. McKnight, who left the force in August, is implicated in seizing cell phones from nine unique women. Upon discovering nude or sexually explicit images, he is alleged to have captured photos of them using his phone. McKnight reportedly informed the women that he needed their phones to verify their insurance status or confirm their identity. Eventually, he supposedly deleted those images from his phone, the statement alleges, referring to the indictment. The alleged incidents transpired between September 1, 2023 and August 19, 2024.
McKnight was apprehended by investigators from the patrol on August 21 and resigned a few days later. He is now charged with one count of destroying records in a federal investigation and nine counts of infringement of rights linked to an excessive search and seizure.
On a Thursday, another former police officer, 29-year-old Julian Alcala, previously associated with the Missouri city of Florissant, was implicated in committing similar acts. Another federal press release accuses Alcala of inspecting the cell phones of 20 different women. Like McKnight, authorities claim Alcala would take photos of nude pictures he discovered on the women’s phones.
The Seattle Times reports that Alcala had only been with the police department for a short time, joining in January 2023. The alleged offenses occurred between February 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024, the DOJ’s press release states. Alcala faces charges similar to McKnight's.
In a statement posted on their Facebook page, the Florissant Police Department expressed their disgust with Alcala's behavior, stating that it was a complete breach of the values they uphold and did not reflect the professionalism and integrity of their dedicated officers. They recognized the severity of this violation of trust and its impact on the community.
The statement went on to say that Alcala was hired as a full-time Police Officer with the City of Florissant after a thorough background investigation that revealed no areas of concern. During his eleven-month tenure, he received no complaints or accusations of misconduct.
Prosecutors are soliciting other individuals who believe they may have been affected by similar crimes to come forward.
Gizmodo reached out to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a comment.
In the future, advancements in technology and tech regulations might serve to prevent such invasions of privacy. In light of these incidents, there's a growing call for stricter guidelines on police use of digital devices.