Charges dropped against ex-Pinellas deputy for license plate database misuse

Prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against a former Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy accused of improperly using the agency’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) database. According to WFLA, the deputy ran 381 searches on one woman’s license plate, with more than 200 of those searches conducted while off duty.

The vehicle belonged to a woman the deputy had arrested in 2010 and reconnected with via social media in 2024. Initially, the deputy claimed the searches were for official purposes but later admitted they stemmed from personal reasons after the woman rejected his romantic advances.

The charges included official misconduct and unauthorized access to a computer network or electronic device. However, the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit dropped the case, stating Florida statutes currently do not cover this type of misconduct, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

The State Attorney’s Office indicated it will seek legislative changes during the 2027 session to address such situations. This case highlights a gap in Florida law regarding unauthorized use of law enforcement databases for personal reasons.