Documented Incident

Lufkin officer indicted after audit found 10,000+ Flock searches of ex-girlfriend's plate

Event: August 20, 2026 · First reported: August 27, 2026 · 18 sources

Lufkin, Texas police officer Zachary Anthony Klein, 32, was indicted on charges of tampering with governmental records, abuse of official capacity and misuse of official information after a Texas Rangers investigation into his use of the department's Flock license plate reader system. According to an arrest affidavit, Klein ran more than 10,000 searches on an ex-girlfriend's plate between June 2024 and December 2025, along with searches of plates belonging to her relatives and to current and former romantic partners. The department began an audit after receiving a public information request on Aug. 14 about Klein's Flock use, then referred its findings to the Rangers. Klein was booked into the Angelina County Jail on Aug. 20 with bond set at $700,000; no arraignment date had been set, and the allegations have not been tested in court.

Key facts

• Affidavit alleges more than 10,000 searches of one ex-girlfriend's license plate, spanning June 2024 to December 2025.
• Charges: tampering with governmental records, abuse of official capacity, misuse of official information; indictment followed a Texas Rangers investigation.
• Lufkin PD audited Klein's searches after an Aug. 14 public information request and reported the results to the Rangers.
• Affidavit states none of the people whose plates were searched were tied to LPD investigations, and that searches came from a phone not issued by the department and occurred at all hours despite Klein working day shift.
• Klein was booked Aug. 20 into Angelina County Jail on $700,000 bond; Chief Travis Brazil said the department suspended use of Flock cameras during the investigation.

Timeline

• August 27, 2026Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times
• August 26, 2026Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10K times
• August 30, 2026Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s license plate more than 10,000 times using Flock cameras
• September 28, 2026Bond reduced for Lufkin cop accused of abusing Flock camera searches

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (WLFI, August 27, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (KTVF Fairbanks, August 27, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times (Https://www.ktre.com, August 26, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times (Https://www.kwtx.com, August 26, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times (KLTV.com, August 26, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times (KTRE, August 26, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times (KLTV.com, August 26, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (KBTX News 3, August 27, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (WTHI-TV, August 27, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10K times (KTRE, August 26, 2026)
• Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s license plate more than 10,000 times using Flock cameras (easttexasbanner.com, August 30, 2026)
• Texas officer arrested after searching ex-girlfriend’s license plate 10,000 times using Flock cameras, records reveal (Newsbreak, August 30, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (WNDU, August 27, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (fox8live.com, August 27, 2026)
• Officer accused of using Flock cameras to search ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 10,000 times (cleveland19.com, August 27, 2026)
• Bond reduced for Lufkin cop accused of abusing Flock camera searches (KLTV.com, September 28, 2026)
• Bond reduced for Lufkin cop accused of abusing Flock camera searches (KTRE, September 28, 2026)
• Bond reduced for Lufkin cop accused of abusing Flock camera searches (Https://www.kwtx.com, September 28, 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 29, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.