CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper made traffic stops on women, took their cell phones and then used his own phone to record images of intimate photos he found while searching them, according to an indictment by a U.S. Grand Jury Tuesday.
David McKnight faces nine counts of unreasonable search and seizure of the women’s phones and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation.
According to court documents, McKnight stopped nine women for alleged traffic violations, took the phones saying he needed to confirm they had insurance coverage and then used his own phone to snap photos of intimate pictures he found on their phones.
“These allegations are being taken very seriously, and we’d like to encourage anyone who believes they had a concerning interaction with McKnight to contact the FBI,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or via tips.fbi.gov.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.
