Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper arrested on felony charges

(KBSI) – A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper faces five felony counts of invasion of privacy.

David L. McKnight, 39, of Sikeston was arrested at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21.

He is accused of conducting a traffic stop and taking a woman’s phone back to his patrol car, then taking photos that were on the phone with his phone.

During a forensic examination of McKnight’s personal cell phone, copies of deleted images were recovered. The images were consistent with McKnight using his personal to take pictures of other’s people’s cell phone screens, according to the probable cause statement.

More than 15 images were recovered which showed people, including females, in full or partial nudity.

In 2021, Trooper McKnight was assigned to Zone 7, which serves the citizens of Mississippi, New Madrid and Scott counties.

Records and data show McKnight contacted these six victims through separate police interactions between September 2023 and April 2024 in Scott and New Madrid counties.

The method of operation he used to obtain images from these victims all appear to be similar.

Police say McKnight was on-duty, in uniform during all the listed contacts.

Six victims were identified. McKnight is accused of committing the crimes on September 12, December 30, and December 31 in 2023 and on April 6 and April 27 in 2024.

According to the probable cause statement, McKnight was in uniformed road duties at the time and of the contact since it was in his assigned patrol area.

He is being held in the Ste. Genevieve County Jail.