Two former Missouri officers were charged in separate, unconnected cases in federal court this week over allegations that they illegally searched women’s phones during traffic stops to obtain intimate, explicit images found on the devices.

Julian Alcala, 29, who was employed as an officer with the city of Florissant, is charged with 20 counts of deprivation of rights and a count of destroying records in a federal investigation, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri announced Thursday.

The deprivation of rights specifically refers to being free from unreasonable search and seizure, established in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

According to the federal indictment, Alcala would take women’s phones during traffic stops in order to confirm their insurance coverage or vehicle registration. But Alcala searched their phones for nude images and took photos on his own personal phone, the indictment said.

In one case, Alcala allegedly texted himself a video and deleted evidence of the text.

Alcala is accused of doing this to 20 women between Feb. 6 and May 18 of this year.

The Florissant Police Department said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday that it was completely unaware of the alleged behavior. Alcala had passed a “meticulous and thorough background investigation” during the hiring process and the department had not received a complaint about him in the 11 months of his employment.

“We are disgusted at this behavior, which is a complete betrayal of the values we uphold and in no way reflects the professionalism and integrity of our dedicated officers,” the department said. “We recognize the gravity of this breach of trust and its impact on our community.”

Alcala resigned in June after the Florissant Police Department was contacted by the FBI regarding an investigation into him, according to the department statement.

Civil lawsuits have also been filed against Alcala and the city, including one which echoes an allegation made by federal prosecutors. A lawsuit filed in the same district court last month alleges that Alcala sent himself a private video made by a couple having sex.

The Jane Doe was pulled over in February, where Alcala allegedly took her phone back to his vehicle when she presented the insurance information that she stored on the device. The lawsuit said that she noticed “there was a deleted text message” from the time of the stop.

Alcala sent himself the video, deleted the message “in an effort to hide his tracks,” the suit said. He’s also accused of obtaining a nude photo from her phone in the same stop.

Attorney Bevis Schock is representing six people in civil litigation against Alcala in the city. He told NBC News affiliate KSDK that his clients are “real nice, normal people who do what police officers say.”

“The way this started was, the FBI called the victims,” Schock said. “And each victim said, ‘Well I got pulled over and he took my phone back.’”

Court records show a warrant was issued for Alcala on Wednesday but it’s unclear if he is in custody. He has not yet made an appearance in court and does not have an attorney listed.

NBC News was unable to find contact information for Alcala using public records in an effort to reach him for comment on the case. An attorney representing the city of Florissant in a civil lawsuit in the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A similar, but unconnected, case was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office on Tuesday against a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.

David McKnight, 39, was indicted in the same federal court on nine counts of deprivation of rights and one count of destroying records. Federal prosecutors allege that he illegally searched the phones of nine women between September 2023 and August 2024 while working for the highway patrol.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McKnight used his own phone to take pictures of nude images on the women’s phones after they gave him the devices to show their insurance or identification information. Most of the women were pulled over for traffic stops, the office said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety told NBC News that records show McKnight surrendered his state peace officer license, “which means he can never work as a Missouri law enforcement officer again.”

The federal prosecutor’s office told NBC News that McKnight and Alcala’s cases are not connected. It’s unclear if either of the men are in custody.

A public defender assigned to McKnight’s case did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Ashley Johnson, special-agent-in-charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, told people not to hesitate to report uncomfortable encounters with officers. Both cases were investigated by the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.

“If you feel your civil rights have been violated, contact the FBI,” Johnson said. “Investigating criminal conduct by a law enforcement officer is among our top priorities.”

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The 2024 Missouri high school cross country season wrapped up this weekend in Gans Creek Cross Country Course when the MSHSAA hosted the Class 1 to Class 5 finals between Friday and Saturday. 

The festivities held featured sunny conditions on Friday and pouring down rain and mud on Saturday. The weekend saw some new champions and some repeat winners — both individually and in the team standings.

Here is every 2024 MSHSAA state champion from the cross country championships:

FRIDAY

CLASS 5 GIRLS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Bella Navaro-Sanchez, Wentzville Liberty

2. Lucy Wright, Liberty North 

3. Savannah Amann, St. Joseph’s Academy 

Team champion: Eureka

The state trophy was No. 10 for the Lady Wildcats but it was the first championship. Four previous times, Eureka finished as the runners-up. The team had three all-staters: Madison Schepis, Sofia Hoerchler and Daphne Bishop, who was seventh. 

CLASS 5 BOYS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Henry Acorn, Rockhurst

2. Graham Stevener, Kirkwood

3. Luke Sievers, Columbia Rock Bridge

Team champion: Rockhurst

The Hawklets had the champion, a fifth-place finisher in Andrew Davis and Jack McGovern, a freshman, placed ninth. The trophy was the seventh for the Kansas City Jesuit school. This was the thrid title since 2016 for the Hawklets.

CLASS 1 GIRLS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Sonya Brunner, Jefferson City Calvary Lutheran

2. Faith Clark, Mansfield

3. Mya Wray, Platte Valley 

Team champion: Dora 

The Lady Falcons won the school’s first title in the sport by a seven-point margin ahead of Chadwick, last year’s state champion. Sophomore Isabelle Martin paced Dora by placing 17th. 

CLASS 1 BOYS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Nolyn Corder, Mansfield

2. Landen Chapman, Paris 

3. Michael Parrigon, Joplin McAuley Catholic

Team champion: McAuley Catholic

The Warriors had five all-staters – top 30 – and secured the school’s first-ever state championship in not only cross country, but any sports for boys or girls. Parrigon played in a district soccer playoff game the night before the state meet.

SATURDAY

CLASS 4 BOYS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Carson Driemeier, Festus 

2. Liam Adair, Smithville

3. Tate Uding, Festus

Team champion: West Plains

Despite Festus having two in the top three, the state power Zizzers won the title by 22 points. The top five all placed in the top 30, headlined by senior Kyler Gunter in 13th. This was state trophy No. 38 overall and 14th first-place finish.

CLASS 4 GIRLS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Kayleigh Norris, Harrisonville

2. Gabrielle Moresi, Parkway Central

3. Lucy Boyer, Festus

Team champion: Festus

The Lady Tigers won the championship by 10 points, keeping West Plains from sweeping the title. This was the third crown for the St. Louis-area school, all since 2014. 

CLASS 3 GIRLS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Brianna Krueger, St. Charles West

2. Kelly Frank, Kansas City Notre Dame de Sion 

3. Ilene Limberg, Owensville

Team champion: St. Charles West

For the third year in a row, the Lady Warriors took home a state title. The last Class 3 school to do that was Kearney, from 2009-2011. Since MSHSAA to more than three champions in 1998, no Class 3 has won four in a row. 

CLASS 3 BOYS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Brian Burns, Southern Boone 

2. Wyatt Klaiber, El Dorado Springs

3. Sean Burns, Southern Boone

Team champion: Centralia

The Panthers took home a state title, a year after a third-place finish was the school’s first-ever trophy for the program last year. Carter Moss and Nolan Spickert finished 12th and 13th, respectively for the champions, who won by 10 points. 

CLASS 2 GIRLS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Addison Smith, Lexington

2. Clara Trent, Springfield New Covenant Academy

3. Chloe Heckman, North Platte

Team champion: Lexington 

After Smith’s title, Phoebe Engelbrecht (10th) and Tessa Lovell (11th) were also all-staters – and all three are underclassmen. Over the past 6 years, there’s been six different champions in Class 2. This was the Minutewomen’s third straight trophy and first title. 

CLASS 2 BOYS

Top 3 finishers 

1. Chael Lichte, Lexington

2. Brandon Hammett, Butler

3. Colton McMillan, Joplin New Heights Christian Academy

Team champion: Woodland

The southeast Missouri won a title for the second year in a row – which happened after Stockton won the two previous titles before them. The Cardinals had all-state times from Calvin Layton, Hayden Vangennip and Drew Garner.

— Cody Thorn | @sblivemo