Milledgeville police major charged with violating oath, misusing license plate data
Brandon Sellers, who leads the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, was released after posting a $10,000 cash bond.
UPDATE: The Milledgeville Police Department says former Major Brandon Sellers was terminated after an internal inquiry found he used his assigned Flock Safety camera account for non-work-related purposes.
According to an incident report, Chief Dray Swicord notified Major L. Boyer on August 10 of possible misuse of the system. Boyer and Lt. Phillip Vinson reviewed Sellers’ account and found he had used his access as a sworn law enforcement officer for purposes unrelated to his work.
Boyer then obtained warrants charging Sellers with felony violation of oath by a public officer and misdemeanor misuse of captured license plate data. Sellers turned himself in at the Baldwin County Jail on August 11, and the case was forwarded to the district attorney’S office for prosecution.
“We will not tolerate the misuse of Flock technology in any manner,” Swicord said in a statement. He said access is limited to legitimate law enforcement purposes and governed by department policies and safeguards.
ORIGINAL STORY:
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Milledgeville Police Department Major Brandon Sellers was arrested Tuesday on felony violation of oath and misdemeanor license plate data charges, according to a public booking record.
The record identifies him as Brandon Payne Sellers and lists the Milledgeville Police Department as the arresting agency.
Sellers is charged with violation of oath by a public officer and illegally using or obtaining license plate data captured by a law enforcement agency for a purpose other than law enforcement. The record says both charges stem from June 20.
Sellers was booked shortly after 6:20 p.m. Tuesday and released at 7:36 p.m. after posting a $10,000 cash bond.
The record lists Sellers’ last known employer as “unemployed,” but Milledgeville Police Department’s command staff page lists Sellers as the major leading its Criminal Investigations Division.
The booking record does not describe what led to the charges.
41NBC reached out to Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord for more information but has not received a response.