CMPD Officer Arrested and Charged with Illegal Access of a Computer

Published on July 29, 2026

Charlotte, N.C. – (July 29, 2026) – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's (CMPD) Internal Affairs Division is conducting an internal investigation regarding the arrest of CMPD Officer Seth Elliott.

On June 18, 2026, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) informed the CMPD that during an unrelated investigation, SBI developed information indicating that on Tuesday, June 16, Officer Elliott had improperly accessed the FLOCK system and CJLEADS once for non-law enforcement purposes. On Monday, June 22, 2026, Officer Elliott was placed on paid administrative assignment and his equipment and access to systems with criminal intelligence information was revoked pending the outcome of the SBI investigation. On July 29, 2026, Officer Elliott was arrested by the SBI on a charge of illegally accessing a government computer, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

On July 29, 2026, Officer Elliott was placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation.

Officer Elliott was hired on Feb. 26, 2024, and is currently assigned to the University City Division.

CMPD does not own or operate any flock cameras or devices. However, CMPD does have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FLOCK that allows officers access to FLOCK devices of other agencies and entities, at no charge.

Statement from Chief Patterson:

“The public expects and deserves the highest level of integrity from every officer who wears the CMPD badge.  Misusing law enforcement technology or accessing confidential information for non-law enforcement purposes is a betrayal of the public's trust and a violation of everything this profession stands for. We will not tolerate that kind of misconduct, and anyone who violates that trust will be held fully accountable.”

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