Who Is Skylar Thompson? Indiana Deputy Flock Camera Misuse Arrest

Skylar N. Thompson is a 31-year-old former Jackson County, Indiana, sheriff’s deputy who was arrested after prosecutors accused him of repeatedly using the department’s Flock automated license plate reader system to track his girlfriend’s vehicle for personal reasons. Investigators say Thompson searched the same license plate 2,055 times between December 31, 2025, and August 2, 2026, while falsely labeling the queries as “City Planning/Traffic Analysis.” He resigned after being confronted about the searches and now faces felony official misconduct and misdemeanor fraud charges.

Skylar Thompson Arrest

Thompson Was Arrested On August 31, 2026. Indiana State Police said Thompson turned himself in after the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges and obtained a warrant for his arrest. [IndyStar via AOL] [WLWT]

Thompson Was Booked Into The Jackson County Jail. He remained in custody as of early September 1 while awaiting his initial appearance in Jackson County Circuit Court. [IndyStar via AOL]

Charges Against Skylar Thompson

Thompson Is Charged With Official Misconduct. Prosecutors filed the offense as a Level 6 felony. [WRTV] [WAVE]

He Is Also Charged With Fraud. The fraud count is a Class A misdemeanor. [WRTV]

A Level 6 Felony Can Carry Up To Two And A Half Years In Prison. Indiana sentencing law allows a prison term if Thompson is convicted of the official-misconduct charge. [IndyStar via AOL]

2,055 Flock Searches

Investigators Say Thompson Searched One License Plate 2,055 Times. The searches allegedly occurred between December 31, 2025, and August 2, 2026. [WRTV] [WDRB]

The Plate Belonged To Thompson’s Girlfriend. Court records reviewed by the Indianapolis Star say the vehicle belonged to the woman Thompson was dating at the time. She is now described as his ex-girlfriend. [IndyStar via AOL]

The Searches Took Place Over Roughly Seven Months. Investigators allege Thompson repeatedly used his law-enforcement account to follow the vehicle’s movements over that period. [WBIW]

False “City Planning” Justification

Thompson Allegedly Labeled Every Search “City Planning/Traffic Analysis.” Flock users are required to enter a law-enforcement or other authorized reason when querying the database. [WRTV]

Prosecutors Say Thompson Had No City-Planning Assignment. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said he had never been assigned duties involving city planning or traffic-pattern analysis. [WLKY] [WAVE]

The Alleged False Justification Is Central To The Fraud Charge. Prosecutors contend Thompson used a false official purpose to access sensitive law-enforcement surveillance information for personal reasons. [WRTV]

Sheriff’s Office Audit Discovers Searches

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Discovered The Searches During An Internal Audit. A detective reviewing Flock usage identified Thompson’s repeated queries involving the same plate. [IndyStar via AOL] [WRTV]

The Sheriff’s Office Referred The Matter To Indiana State Police. On August 14, Jackson County officials contacted the ISP Sellersburg Post and requested an independent criminal investigation. [WLWT]

State Police Presented Their Findings To Prosecutors. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office then filed the official-misconduct and fraud charges. [WLWT]

Thompson Allegedly Admits What He Did

Court Records Say Thompson Admitted The Searches To His Girlfriend. After being confronted at work, Thompson allegedly went to the woman’s home and told her he had searched her license plate nearly 2,000 times. [IndyStar via AOL]

The Woman Has Not Been Publicly Identified. Prosecutors and news organizations have withheld her name. [IndyStar via AOL]

Thompson Leaves Sheriff’s Office

Thompson Resigned After Being Confronted About The Audit. The probable-cause affidavit says he resigned from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office after learning investigators had discovered the searches. [IndyStar via AOL]

He Is No Longer Employed As A Jackson County Deputy. The prosecutor’s office confirmed his employment had ended by the time the charges were announced. [WRTV]

What Are Flock Cameras?

Flock Cameras Are Automated License Plate Readers. The systems photograph license plates and can also record vehicle characteristics including make, model, color and distinctive features as vehicles pass fixed camera locations. [IndyStar via AOL]

Law-Enforcement Users Can Search The Database To Locate Vehicles. Police agencies use the technology to investigate crimes, locate stolen cars and identify vehicles connected to missing persons or suspects. [IndyStar via AOL]

The Technology Has Drawn Privacy Concerns Because It Can Reconstruct A Vehicle’s Movements. Thompson’s prosecution comes amid broader scrutiny of law-enforcement officers using Flock data for personal purposes. [IndyStar via AOL]

Other Indiana Flock Misuse Investigation

An Indianapolis Police Officer Was Recently Accused Of Similar Misuse. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police announced in August that an officer had improperly accessed Flock data for personal reasons. [WRTV]

That Officer Was Stripped Of Police Powers. IMPD also seized the officer’s department-issued equipment while a criminal investigation continued. [WRTV]

Prosecutor Responds

Jackson County Prosecutor Lynsey Fleetwood Said Police Access To Surveillance Tools Must Be Used Only For Legitimate Purposes. Her office emphasized that law-enforcement officers are entrusted with sensitive investigative information. [WRTV]

Fleetwood Said No One Is Above The Law. She said her office has a zero-tolerance approach when public trust is allegedly violated by an officer. [WRTV]

Case Status

Thompson Has Been Arrested And The Criminal Case Is Pending. As of September 1, 2026, he faces one Level 6 felony count of official misconduct and one Class A misdemeanor fraud count. [WLWT]

His Case Will Be Heard In Jackson County Circuit Court. An initial hearing had not yet been publicly scheduled early September 1. [IndyStar via AOL]

The Charges Have Not Been Proven In Court. Thompson is accused of misusing police surveillance data to monitor his then-girlfriend’s vehicle, but he has not been convicted.