Law Enforcement Officers in Missouri under Fire for Stopping Females and Scouring Their Mobile Devices for Explicit Images
In a shocking turn of events, two former Missouri police officers, David McKnight and Julian Alcala, have been charged with serious offenses. The allegations, which have sent ripples through the community, involve breaches of trust, unreasonable searches, and the destruction of records.
David McKnight, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, was arrested by patrol investigators on Aug. 21 and resigned shortly thereafter. McKnight is accused of taking cell phones from nine different women and taking pictures of nude or sexually explicit pictures he found. He is now facing charges, with a grand jury indicting him in U.S. District Court. The offenses are alleged to have taken place between September 1, 2023, and Aug. 19, 2024.
McKnight is said to have told the women that he needed their phones to confirm they had insurance or to verify their identity, but his actions were far from legitimate.
Julian Alcala, who previously worked for the Missouri city of Florissant, is accused of similar actions. Alcala had not been with the police department long, joining in January 2023. Despite a thorough background investigation, Alcala had no areas of concern revealed during his hiring process. However, during his eleven months of employment, he received no complaints or accusations of misconduct until recently.
Alcala is accused of searching the phones of 20 different women. The alleged offenses took place between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. He is now charged with one count of destroying records in a federal investigation and nine counts of deprivation of rights related to an unreasonable search and seizure.
The Florissant Police Department posted a statement on its Facebook page regarding the allegations against Julian Alcala, expressing disgust at his behavior, which is described as a betrayal of the department's values. The statement acknowledges the gravity of the breach of trust and its impact on the community.
Gizmodo reached out to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for comment, but as of now, no statement has been issued.
In light of these allegations, prosecutors are asking people who think they may have been impacted by similar crimes to come forward. The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding the trust and integrity that the public places in law enforcement officers.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
