A former police officer and a former state trooper were charged in separate, unconnected cases this week. At least 29 women's phones were allegedly searched.

Summary

Two former Missouri police officers, Julian Alcala and David McKnight, were charged in separate federal cases for illegally searching women’s phones during traffic stops to obtain explicit images.

Alcala, formerly with Florissant police, faces 20 counts of deprivation of rights for allegedly taking nude photos and videos from phones and deleting evidence.

McKnight, an ex-Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, faces nine similar counts.

At least 29 women’s phones were allegedly searched.

Both men resigned after investigations began. The FBI urges victims to report misconduct by officers. The cases are unconnected.

  • Travelator@thelemmy.club
    43·
    6 days ago

    Do cops just routinely grab victim’s phones at traffic stops and demand they be unlocked so they can sit in their car and scroll through the photos? How the hell is this legal? Why ?

    This really pisses me off.

    For the thick brained: “victim” in this context is the person pulled over.

    • lunarul@lemmy.world
      17·
      6 days ago

      Do cops just routinely grab victim’s phones at traffic stops and demand they be unlocked so they can sit in their car and scroll through the photos? How the hell is this legal? Why ?

      No, that’s not normal or legal. Which is why these guys are getting charged with deprivation of rights.

    • Dlayknee@lemmy.world
      122·
      6 days ago

      From the article:

      According to the federal indictment, Alcala would take women’s phones during traffic stops to confirm their insurance coverage or vehicle registration. But he searched their phones for nude images and took photos on his own personal phone, the indictment said.

      (Doesn’t make it ok, but the cops weren’t just walking up to the window and demanding to search their phones)

      • bitwolf@lemmy.one
        4·
        6 days ago

        Its things like this that make me glad for Androids app-locking feature.

        Lock it on your insurance card. They would need your passcode to leave the insurance app.

        • TheRealKuni@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          5 days ago

          For those who are unaware or curious, iOS can do this with your Guided Access settings. You can set it up to be unable to leave the app it’s currently in when you start Guided Access.