WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Former Wrightsville Beach police officer Tonya Baker has been indicted for misusing both the county’s and the town’s Flock systems. She was arrested Sept. 9 and has an unsecured bond of $500.
Baker was indicted by a grand jury and charged with misusing an automated license plate reader between Feb. 10 and May 12 of this year, according to court documents. She is alleged by the State Bureau of Investigation to have used the Flock Safety cameras to obtain information on two vehicles.
Though Wrightsville Beach’s Flock cameras were not set up until March, SBI spokesperson Chad Flowers told Port City Daily Baker accessed the county’s Flock system for information. New Hanover County’s Flock cameras were approved for a three-year contract in February 2025, though the commissioners voted to cancel the contract on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
READ MORE: Flock contract canceled in New Hanover County for automatic license plate readers
Misuse of an automated license plate reader is a class 1 misdemeanor and carry a sentence of up to 120 days in jail, if found guilty.
The SBI investigation was initiated on July 16 after Wrightsville Beach Police Department conducted an audit and found the discrepancy.
The grand jury was presented the SBI’s findings the week of Aug. 24, and the grand jury indictment took place Sept. 8, when Wrightsville Beach announced Baker was no longer employed by the town.
Baker will appear in court Oct. 12 for an administrative hearing, according to e-courts.
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