Pinellas deputy arrested after sheriff says he misused Flock database

Pinellas County sheriff’s officials say Deputy Ronald Scott was arrested Nov. 5 after an internal audit found he had used the Flock ALPR database and other state databases to look up information about his estranged wife, her boyfriend and other family members. The case puts a spotlight on access to sensitive records inside county policing.

What the sheriff says the audit found

The sheriff’s office said the audit identified more than 100 misuse instances between Feb. 14 and June 19. Scott resigned Nov. 4, one day before the arrest, and the office said the ALPR tools now flag suspicious queries and trends that may indicate misuse.

Charges and agency response

Scott was charged with three counts of access computer electronic device without authority and one count of official misconduct, then booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, "this is a people problem, not an ALPR problem," and said the office will monitor and take appropriate action when it finds misuse.

What happens next

The sheriff’s office says it has completed its historical audits using the enhanced capability and is confident this is the last historical case of ALPR system misuse. For residents, the immediate takeaway is that the alleged misuse was found internally, and the agency says its audit process is now in place to watch for future abuse.