Category: News

David McKnight, a 39-year-old former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, was indicted in November 2024 on federal charges including nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation.

Between September 2023 and August 2024, McKnight allegedly conducted traffic stops on nine women, took their cell phones under the pretense of verifying insurance coverage or identification, and then used his personal phone to photograph nude images he found on their devices. He subsequently deleted the images from his own phone in an apparent attempt to cover his tracks.

McKnight was arrested by patrol investigators on August 21, 2024, and resigned from the Missouri State Highway Patrol five days later. He pleaded not guilty and the case is ongoing.

Are you a victim? Join the lawsuit.

Were your private photos and videos taken and, in turn, your constitutional rights violated by a police officer during a traffic stop? Join the other plaintiffs as we fight for justice against this outrageous activity.

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Pleban & Associates filed a federal lawsuit that challenges the circumstances surrounding the November 2022 police shooting death of Taylor Shomaker, 32, during a standoff at his mother’s O’Fallon, Missouri home. The case centers on body camera and surveillance footage that attorneys claim contradicts official police reports about the incident.

Shomaker was fatally shot after coming outside to let his dog out of his car during a 90-minute standoff with the St. Charles County Regional SWAT team. The suit alleges that a police negotiator had given Shomaker permission to exit the house for this purpose and told him officers would “be calm.”

Video evidence shows Shomaker walking calmly to his vehicle with his firearm pointed toward the ground when officers opened fire, ultimately shooting him 19 times, including fatal shots to his back. The lawsuit claims Shomaker never made threatening movements toward officers and only returned fire after being shot.

<p”One shot is too many. Nineteen shots is outrageous,” said attorney JC Pleban who is representing Shomker’s mother, Kelly Surtin.

The case raises questions about police use of force protocols and crisis intervention procedures, with mental health experts noting that Shomaker’s calm demeanor during the shooting may have reflected trauma responses associated with PTSD. The lawsuit names officers from St. Peters, St. Charles, and O’Fallon police departments as defendants.

Read more coverage:

• St. Louis Today: Full lawsuit details
• First Alert 4: Video footage analysis

We are excited to announce that Pleban + Associates was invited and joined the ranks of the esteemed Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

This exclusive group is made up of only the most accomplished attorneys, who have demonstrated exceptional success in securing multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. The honor of being selected into this forum is a clear reflection of the high level of expertise, dedication, and hard work our firm brings to each case we take on.

As members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, we stand alongside some of the best and brightest legal minds in the nation. This membership not only acknowledges our firm’s history of success but also reaffirms our unwavering commitment to fighting for the best possible outcomes for our clients. Our attorneys are driven by a passion for justice and the belief that every client deserves a strong advocate in their corner.

Looking forward, we are more committed than ever to achieving favorable results for those we represent. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum provides our firm with a wealth of resources and a network of legal professionals who share our values of excellence and client-centered service. We are eager to continue building on this success and to provide unparalleled legal representation for years to come.

Two former Missouri police officers have been indicted for misconduct involving the unlawful search of women’s cellphones during traffic stops. Julian Alcala, a former officer with the Florissant Police Department, is accused of searching the phones of 20 women between February and May of 2024. Under the guise of verifying insurance or registration details, Alcala took explicit photos from the victims’ phones, even sending himself a video from one phone before attempting to delete evidence. The Florissant Police Department stated it was unaware of any complaints against Alcala during his 11 months on the force, and he resigned after the FBI informed the department of the investigation.

In a separate case, David McKnight, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, was also indicted for similar actions, accused of searching the cellphones of nine women between September 2023 and August 2024. McKnight allegedly took their phones under the pretext of checking identification or insurance, but instead sought out and obtained nude images. Both officers face charges of depriving rights and destroying evidence. In addition to the criminal charges, McKnight and Alcala are facing lawsuits from women who accuse them of misconduct during the traffic stops.

Read the full article on nytimes.com