Two Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies have been arrested after investigators say they abused powerful law-enforcement databases to track people for personal reasons. The cases involve automated license-plate-reader technology capable of showing police where a vehicle has been spotted.
Deputy Karl Gwynne, 57, allegedly ran 381 searches involving a 35-year-old woman he had arrested years earlier and later wanted a relationship with. Authorities say about 300 of those searches were through the Flock automated license-plate-reader system — and many allegedly had no legitimate law-enforcement purpose.
Deputy Travis Stanton, 33, is accused of becoming romantically interested in a 17-year-old girl, searching law-enforcement databases for information about her and her family, and repeatedly showing up at places including her job. The teenager told authorities Stanton had visited the fast-food restaurant where she worked nine times.
Both men resigned during the investigations and were arrested September 30. The cases are another troubling example of how powerful police surveillance tools can be abused for personal purposes.
Sources: Facebook Florida Hillbilly News | Globe Magazine | USA TODAY | Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
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