INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD has announced that five officers have been charged after allegations that they misused Flock cameras to track romantic partners, spouses and random citizens.
5 officers charged
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the charges at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Charges have been filed against the following:
- Michael Rogers
- Fraud and official misconduct (three counts each)
- Accused of “thousands” of improper searches
- 16 years with IMPD
- Suspended and recommended for termination
- Jonathan Schultz
- Stalking, fraud and official misconduct (26 counts total)
- Accused of “over 1,000” improper searches
- 18 years with IMPD
- Suspended and recommended for termination
- Cassandra Crawley
- Fraud and official misconduct (eight counts each)
- Accused of “hundreds” of improper searches
- 7 years with IMPD
- Suspended and recommended for termination
- Matthew Binford
- Fraud and official misconduct
- Accused of “over 1,000” improper searches
- 4 years with IMPD
- Suspended and recommended for termination
- Abigail Cramer
- Fraud and official misconduct (six counts each)
- Accused of “hundreds” of improper searches
- 5 years with IMPD
- Resigned
“This is definitely just the beginning,” Prosecutor Mears said.
What is alleged?
The allegations against the officers involve the misuse of automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, that are commonly known as Flock cameras. These devices use camera technology to track cars on public roads throughout the state.
Mears said during his press conference that most of the allegations against the five officers involve a romantic partner or spouse being tracked illegally. However, in some instances, it involved random citizens being stalked by an officer.
The prosecutor also said that each count of fraud against an officer represents one license plate number that they searched, regardless of how many times they searched it. For each count of fraud an officer faces, they also face an accompanying official misconduct charge.
Specific allegations
The allegations against Officer Binford involve an ex-wife. Binford is alleged to have used his superior officer’s laptop to access ALPR technology and track the movements of his ex-wife. While speaking with the ex-wife, detectives learned that Binford had an “unusual knowledge of her whereabouts” during their separation…