A former Indiana sheriff’s deputy was charged with abusing entry to Flock digicam know-how to stalk his girlfriend for over the interval of a 12 months by allegedly conducting greater than 2,000 searches for her license plate.
Skylar Thompson, 31, faces one depend of official misconduct as a Degree 6 felony and a misdemeanor depend of fraud.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Division found that Thompson used the Flock know-how to conduct the searches between Dec. 31, 2025, and Aug. 2 throughout an inside audit of the system, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Workplace mentioned.
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Skylar Thompson, 31, a former Indiana sheriff’s deputy, was charged with allegedly conducting greater than 2,000 searches for a similar license plate utilizing Flock cameras, prosecutors mentioned.
Thompson reportedly listed his searches as “metropolis planning/site visitors evaluation” regardless of by no means being assigned duties involving both responsibility, prosecutors mentioned.
The company then requested the Indiana State Police to analyze. Thompson turned himself in to authorities Monday.
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He resigned from the sheriff’s division the day he was confronted concerning the alleged abuse. He additionally drove to his girlfriend’s residence and admitted what he had carried out, WKBN-TV reported.
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Flock cameras are utilized in cities throughout the nation as license plate readers, however the know-how has come below scrutiny in latest months.
“Legislation enforcement officers are entrusted with entry to delicate data and investigative instruments, and that entry should be used responsibly and just for reliable legislation enforcement functions,” the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Workplace mentioned. “No particular person is above the legislation, together with these entrusted with implementing it.”
Flock cameras have come below heavy scrutiny over privateness issues and the potential for misuse.
Flock Security spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the know-how as an essential public security device in an announcement to Fox Information Digital final month.
“Flock’s know-how is a crucial public security device for legislation enforcement companies throughout Texas, serving to officers remedy severe crimes, discover lacking individuals, recuperate stolen autos and assist safer communities,” Lewbel mentioned.
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“We assist considerate laws and powerful privateness, transparency and accountability guardrails that guarantee know-how is used responsibly whereas preserving legislation enforcement’s means to make use of efficient instruments to maintain individuals protected.”
Unique article supply: Ex-Indiana deputy charged with felony for allegedly utilizing Flock cameras to stalk girlfriend