U. S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming | US Attorney - Eastern District of Missouri
U. S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming | US Attorney - Eastern District of Missouri
A former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper has been indicted on charges related to civil rights violations. David McKnight, aged 39, faces one count of destroying records in a federal investigation and nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. The charges allege that McKnight unlawfully searched the cell phones of nine women during traffic stops from September 1, 2023, to August 19, 2024.
According to the indictment, McKnight seized the women's phones ostensibly to confirm insurance coverage or verify identification. He then searched these devices for nude pictures and used his personal phone to photograph them before deleting the images.
“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,” stated U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming.
It is important to note that an indictment is not proof of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is leading the prosecution. Individuals with information related to this case are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through tips.fbi.gov.
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