Documented Incident
Former Colquitt County deputy charged with misusing Flock license plate reader system
Event: September 14, 2026 · First reported: September 14, 2026 · 8 sources
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of former Colquitt County deputy Bentley Hughes, 37, of Moultrie, on two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and two counts of violation of oath of office. The Colquitt County Sheriff's Office asked the GBI on September 8, 2026 to investigate allegations that an employee misused the agency's Flock Safety system. The GBI said preliminary information indicates the system was used for non-law-enforcement purposes. Hughes surrendered on September 14, 2026 and was booked into the Colquitt County Jail; the charges are allegations that have not been tested in court.
Georgia is one of the few states with a specific criminal statute for misusing license plate reader systems, and prosecutions under it show how audit trails can surface off-duty queries — a capability many jurisdictions deploying ALPR networks have not established.
Key facts
- Charges: two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and two counts of violation of oath of office
- Colquitt County Sheriff's Office requested the GBI investigation on September 8, 2026
- Hughes turned himself in and was booked on September 14, 2026
- The completed case file is to be forwarded to the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution
- AllOnGeorgia reported a separate GBI arrest of a former Emerson Police Department officer on similar charges
Timeline
- September 14, 2026GBI Arrests Former Colquitt County Deputy for Misuse of License Plate Reader System
- September 14, 2026Colquitt County deputy arrested for alleged misuse of Flock cams
- September 18, 2026Former Georgia deputy arrested after alleged misuse of Flock cameras
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- GBI Arrests Former Colquitt County Deputy for Misuse of License Plate Reader System (AllOnGeorgia, September 14, 2026)
- Colquitt County deputy arrested for alleged misuse of Flock cams (Wctv, September 14, 2026)
- Colquitt County deputy arrested for alleged misuse of Flock cams (WALB, September 14, 2026)
- Colquitt County deputy arrested for alleged misuse of Flock cams (WALB, September 14, 2026)
- Former Georgia deputy arrested after alleged misuse of Flock cameras (WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee News, September 18, 2026)
- Another Georgia Deputy Arrested for Misusing Flock Cameras (Yahoo, September 16, 2026)
- Former Georgia deputy arrested after alleged misuse of Flock cameras (Newsbreak, September 18, 2026)
- Another Georgia Deputy Arrested for Misusing Flock Cameras (AOL.com, September 16, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated September 23, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.