A former Brunswick County Sheriff's Office employee was arrested by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation on charges stemming from the alleged misuse of government computer systems and automated license plate readers, or Flock Safety cameras, the agency said.
Daniel Heith Little, 47, a former lieutenant in the sheriff’s office, was indicted by a grand jury on six counts of accessing government computers, six misdemeanor counts of misuse of automated license plate readers and six counts of willful failure to discharge duties, according to a State Bureau of Investigation news release.
Little was released on an unsecured bond and is scheduled
to appear in a Brunswick County court, the news release said.
“We will continue to fully cooperate with the SBI and allow justice to do its job,” the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
“This is a disappointing situation, and one we have taken seriously from the beginning,” the sheriff’s office continued. “We have a responsibility to ensure that law enforcement technology is used appropriately and in accordance with our policies. These policies are clear, and we will continue to enforce them and address any misuse appropriately.”
The sheriff’s office said automated license plate readers are an important law enforcement and investigative tool, “and we remain committed to ensuring it is used responsibly and only for legitimate law enforcement purposes.”
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at RLiepa@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Former Brunswick deputy charged with misuse of Flock cameras
