A Richmond County deputy has been fired and arrested after an internal audit found he repeatedly searched the county's Flock license-plate reader system for what officials say looked like personal reasons over nearly a month. Investigators say the queries, which stretched across roughly 28 days, were flagged in the audit and quickly handed off to detectives. Authorities identified the deputy as Jaquarius Yarbrough, and the probe is still underway.
What the sheriff's office says
According to a statement from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, a routine June 25 audit of its Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) system uncovered what appeared to be unauthorized access. Yarbrough, who was assigned to the Transportation Division, allegedly ran multiple searches involving at least one license plate over a 28-day span, and the office concluded the activity appeared personal rather than tied to any official investigation, WSB-TV reported. The sheriff's office said the findings were immediately turned over to the RCSO Criminal Investigation Division and promised a full review of any alleged misuse of county resources.
Booking and charges
County booking records show Yarbrough was taken to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and charged with two felonies, including violation of his oath of office and a count tied to Georgia's rules on improper retention of ALPR data, according to local records. CSRA Crime lists the arrest and associated booking details. The sheriff's office says Yarbrough has been terminated from his position while investigators continue their work.
Other arrests in metro area
The Richmond County case lands in the middle of a broader regional shake-up. In metro Atlanta this week, Cherokee County deputies were also fired and arrested after separate allegations that they misused that county's license-plate reader system, as reported by Atlanta News First. Those incidents have prompted departments in the area to review audits and tighten access controls around vendor-run ALPR networks.
Why this matters
ALPR networks such as those operated by Flock Safety are marketed as investigative tools to help track suspects and stolen vehicles, but recent reporting has highlighted technical weak spots and gaps in oversight that can leave searches vulnerable to exposure or misuse. National coverage, including reporting by Breached Company, has detailed how indexed search logs and cross-jurisdictional access can raise significant privacy concerns. CBS San Francisco has also reported on agencies that responded by reviewing contracts and tightening their audit practices.
Legal implications
In Georgia, violating an oath of office is treated as a serious felony and, based on recent case analyses interpreting OCGA § 16-10-1, can carry prison time if a conviction is obtained, according to court commentary. To sustain the second count, prosecutors will need to show that Yarbrough's ALPR queries were outside any authorized law enforcement purpose and that the resulting data was retained in a way that conflicts with state rules.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office says it remains committed to transparency and accountability as the investigation moves forward and has asked anyone with information to reach out to its investigators.
