Two Missouri police officers find themselves at the center of separate federal investigations involving alleged misconduct during traffic stops.
According to The Associated Press, former Missouri State Highway Patrol officer David McKnight and former Florissant officer Julian Alcala were indicted this week on federal charges for allegedly searching women's phones during traffic stops to access and copy nude photographs.
The cases, while unrelated, reveal striking similarities in their methods of operation. Both officers are accused of violating women's rights by confiscating their phones under false pretenses during routine traffic stops. The officers allegedly used their authority to coerce women into surrendering their devices, claiming they needed to verify insurance information or confirm identities.
McKnight, 39, allegedly targeted nine women between September 2023 and August 19, establishing a consistent pattern of misconduct. His approach involved initiating traffic stops and demanding access to the women's phones. After gaining access, he would reportedly use his personal device to photograph any nude images he discovered.
The investigation led to McKnight's arrest by patrol investigators on August 21, followed by his resignation five days later. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, through Captain Scott White, addressed the situation with a firm stance on accountability.
White made the patrol's position clear, stating:
We are held to high standards and if it is determined that those standards were not met, they are held accountable.
In a parallel case, Julian Alcala, 29, faces accusations involving 20 women between February 6 and May 18, with five incidents reportedly occurring on the same day. His alleged methods closely mirrored McKnight's approach, using vehicle registration and insurance verification as pretexts to access personal devices.
The scope of Alcala's alleged violations extended beyond photographing nude images. According to the indictment, he also transferred at least one video from a victim's phone to his own device. The city of Florissant now faces four lawsuits naming both Alcala and the municipality as defendants.
The Florissant Police Department responded to the allegations with a strongly worded statement:
We are disgusted at this behavior, which is a complete betrayal of the values we uphold and in no way reflects the professionalism and integrity of our dedicated officers. We recognize the gravity of this breach of trust and its impact on our community.
The legal proceedings are moving forward with different trajectories for each officer. McKnight has entered a not guilty plea during his court appearance on Thursday, while Alcala, who resigned in June during an FBI investigation, has yet to secure legal representation.
These cases have sent shockwaves through Missouri's law enforcement community. The violations allegedly occurred during routine traffic stops, turning what should have been standard law enforcement interactions into opportunities for exploitation.
Two former Missouri law enforcement officers, David McKnight and Julian Alcala, face federal charges for allegedly exploiting their positions to access and copy private photographs from women's phones during traffic stops. The cases involve a total of 29 victims across both investigations, with incidents occurring between September 2023 and August 2024.
The federal cases will proceed through the justice system, with McKnight already entering a not-guilty plea and Alcala awaiting legal representation. Both men face charges of civil rights violations and evidence tampering, while Alcala additionally confronts multiple civil lawsuits alongside the city of Florissant.
