HAINES CITY, Fla. — A Haines City Police Department officer has been arrested after investigators alleged he repeatedly accessed a law-enforcement license plate database to locate a vehicle associated with his estranged wife, including hundreds of searches during a nearly two-year period.
Officer Christopher Goodson, 31, was arrested on August 11, 2026, and charged with one count of official misconduct and one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices, according to the Haines City Police Department and court records cited by multiple Florida news outlets.
Goodson has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. The police department has also said Goodson indicated that he intends to resign because of the investigation, although Cop Talk LIVE has not independently confirmed that a resignation has been finalized.
Investigation Began After Officer Contacted Supervisor
According to the arrest affidavit, the investigation began after Goodson approached a supervisor and disclosed that he had conducted searches involving his estranged wife’s vehicle.
The affidavit states that Goodson told his supervisor his wife had contacted him after reportedly being approached by The Washington Post regarding a possible story about his use of the Flock database.
Goodson allegedly acknowledged searching for his wife’s vehicle and told the supervisor that he had used the system to determine the location of his children while they were with her.
Haines City police said a criminal investigation was opened and Goodson was placed on administrative leave with pay.
Subscribe on YouTube and join thousands of officers, attorneys, and citizens who follow Cop Talk LIVE for fact-based analysis—not headlines.
▶ Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/@CopTalkLIVE
Affidavit Alleges 717 Searches of Vehicle
Investigators subsequently reviewed Goodson’s activity within the Flock Safety automated license plate reader system.
According to the arrest affidavit, Goodson entered the license plate number associated with his estranged wife’s vehicle into the database 717 times between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026. Police said the searches occurred while Goodson was both on and off duty.
The affidavit reportedly documents particularly high levels of activity during portions of 2025, including:
- 280 searches in September 2025
- 104 searches in November 2025
Investigators said the vehicle was not connected to a criminal investigation that would have required the searches.
Investigators Say Multiple Search Justifications Were Entered
Access to law-enforcement databases generally requires users to document a law-enforcement purpose for a search.
According to the affidavit, Goodson entered several different categories as reasons for accessing information involving the vehicle.
Reported categories included:
- Criminal motor vehicle offenses
- Assault or battery offenses
- Drug or narcotics-related activity
- Obstructing police
Haines City police investigators determined that Goodson’s estranged wife and her vehicle were not involved in a criminal investigation that would have required those searches, according to the affidavit.
The allegations contained in an arrest affidavit are not findings of guilt. Goodson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Is the Flock Camera System?
Flock Safety systems use automated license plate reader technology to capture vehicle and license plate information.
Law-enforcement agencies can search information collected through the system as part of investigations involving matters such as stolen vehicles, missing persons and other criminal investigations.
The Haines City case involves allegations regarding how an authorized law-enforcement user accessed that information, rather than allegations that the cameras themselves were unlawfully installed or operated.
Police Chief Responds to Alleged Database Misuse
Haines City Police Chief Isaac Jackson issued a statement following Goodson’s arrest, saying the department supports legitimate investigative uses of law-enforcement databases but does not tolerate unauthorized or personal use.
Jackson said investigative databases and law-enforcement information systems are provided for legitimate official purposes and must be used in accordance with department policies and applicable law.
The chief also said the department remained committed to transparency, public trust, professionalism and accountability.
Jackson further announced that he had directed the department to implement additional quarterly oversight intended to verify that personnel accessing the system are doing so for legitimate law-enforcement purposes.
Haines City Police Adds New Flock Oversight Measures
Following the investigation, Haines City police announced additional safeguards governing officers’ use of the Flock system.
According to Tampa Bay 28, the department acknowledged that it did not previously conduct formal audits of Flock usage. Under the new procedure, platoon lieutenants will conduct quarterly audits involving random reviews of officers under their supervision.
Those reviews are expected to examine:
- The documented reason for each reviewed search
- Frequency of searches
- Patterns of database usage
- Accuracy of information entered into the system
- Whether searches can be connected to a valid case or incident number
The department said the auditing process is intended to identify potentially unauthorized access, unusual search patterns and inaccurate or incomplete documentation.
Haines City police have indicated that they do not intend to discontinue using Flock technology, describing it as an effective investigative tool when used appropriately.
Charges Against Christopher Goodson
According to police and court records cited in published reports, Goodson faces:
- One count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices
- One count of official misconduct
The charges arise from allegations described in the arrest affidavit. Filing of criminal charges does not establish guilt, and the allegations remain subject to the judicial process.
CLICK HERE to get your copy of
Current Status
As of the latest publicly available reporting reviewed by Cop Talk LIVE:
- Christopher Goodson has been arrested and criminally charged.
- He has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending further investigation.
- The Haines City Police Department has said Goodson indicated he intends to resign because of the investigation.
- No final disposition of the criminal charges has been reported.
- Haines City police have implemented additional quarterly auditing procedures for use of the Flock system.
Goodson has served with the Haines City Police Department since March 2022, according to the department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times is Officer Christopher Goodson accused of searching for his estranged wife’s vehicle?
According to the arrest affidavit, investigators identified 717 searches involving the vehicle’s license plate between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026.
Why did Goodson allegedly say he searched the vehicle?
According to the affidavit, Goodson told his supervisor that he used the system to keep track of where his children were located while they were with his estranged wife. That explanation is an allegation documented in the investigation and should not be interpreted as an established justification for the database access.
Was Goodson’s estranged wife under criminal investigation?
According to Haines City police investigators, the vehicle was not associated with a criminal investigation that would have required Goodson to conduct the searches described in the affidavit.
Has Goodson been fired?
The latest publicly available information reviewed by Cop Talk LIVE states that Goodson was placed on paid administrative leave. Police have also said he indicated an intention to resign, but a finalized resignation has not been confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.
Is Haines City discontinuing its use of Flock cameras?
No. The police department has said it intends to continue using Flock technology while adding additional oversight and auditing procedures intended to detect unauthorized or improper database access.
🚔 JOIN US FOR ROLL CALL
On the first Sunday of every month, Cop Talk LIVE Patreon members meet for an exclusive members-only Roll Call — real conversation, direct access, and discussion you won’t get anywhere else.
👉 CLICK Cop Talk LIVE Patreon today and be part of the next Roll Call.
About The Author
Discover more from Cop Talk LIVE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
