Two Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been arrested and fired following an investigation into the unauthorized use of the Flock License Plate Reader system, authorities said. These latest incidents mark the fifth and sixth sheriff's personnel arrested this year for the same actions.
The sheriff’s office Criminal Investigation Division concluded that Investigator Sean Morrow and Deputy Jose Ferrer knowingly accessed the Flock camera network to search license plate numbers for personal reasons unrelated to any official law enforcement duties, noted a news release. Investigators determined the searches were not connected to a criminal investigation, call for service, intelligence gathering, or any other legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Morrow and Ferrer were charged with misuse of license plate readers and violation of oath of office. Following their arrests, both were booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
Former sheriff's Lt. John McKenzie, Inv. Curtis Hoskins and Deputy Joshua Johnson in July were also charged with misuse of license plate readers and with violating their oath of office. Former Deputy Jaquarius Yarbrough was charged with the same offenses in June. All also lost their jobs.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies’ actions violated agency policies governing access to criminal justice databases and information systems, as well as standards related to professional conduct and ethical obligations under the oath of office.
Sheriff Eugene Brantley said in the news release that the agency remains committed to accountability and will thoroughly investigate allegations of misconduct. The investigation is ongoing.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Two more Richmond County deputies arrested over camera system misuse
