SBI Charges Former Wrightsville Beach Officer With Misusing Automated License Plate Reader System

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged a former Wrightsville Beach Police Department officer with misuse of an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system.

On July 16, 2026, the Wrightsville Beach police chief and the New Hanover County district attorney requested the SBI to investigate possible misuse of the ALPR camera system by an employee.

A New Hanover County grand jury has since indicted former officer Tonya Baker on one count of misuse of an Automated License Plate Reader system. She was arrested September 9 and is scheduled to appear in court on October 12, 2026.

The SBI’s investigation is ongoing. No additional information is available at this time.