VOORHEES TWP. —A township police officer has been charged with using the state’s motor vehicle data base to look up personal information about a woman motorist and then attempting to “friend” her on Facebook.
Jeffrey M. Tyther, 44, of Voorhees, is charged with computer theft and violating the motor vehicle record law, Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk said Monday. Tyther was released after being issued a summons. The 14-year veteran of the township force is suspended without pay, a spokesman for Faulk said.
Tyther is accused of using the state police NCIC motor vehicle database on Sept. 9 to obtain personal information about a female motorist he passed in Voorhees. Use of that database is specifically limited to law enforcement purposes only, meaning it can only be used to further a criminal investigation, a spokesman for Faulk said. Tyther did not stop this motorist, issue her a ticket or witness her engage in any criminal behavior that would have warranted accessing her personal information through that database, spokesman Jason Laughlin said.
Tyther was on duty in a marked police cruiser when he saw the motorist pass him. He pulled up behind her, then pulled next to her and waved at her. At no time did Tyther or the other motorist stop their vehicles or speak, Laughlin said.
Tyther used the motorist’s personal information to find her on Facebook. He attempted to “friend” her within a few days of seeing her on the road. When she didn’t respond to the friend request Tyther emailed her, identifying himself as the officer who waved at her earlier that week, Laughlin said.
The woman told a co-worker about the incident and the co-worker contacted police.