A former Amarillo police officer accused of using law enforcement technology to track a man for personal reasons has been released on bond after turning himself in.
Christian Eder, 29, turned himself in at the Potter County Detention Center around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. According to the arrest report, Eder arrived at the jail with "bond in hand."
He was released on a $4,500 bond shortly before 9 p.m.
On Wednesday, Eder waived his right to a pre-trial arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.
Eder faces 78 counts of tampering with a government record stemming from allegations that he improperly used the Amarillo Police Department's Flock camera system and a law enforcement database.
Court records detail alleged Flock camera searches
According to court records, Eder used APD's Flock camera system 76 times and a separate law enforcement database twice to track a man who had previously dated another police officer.
Court records allege Eder had expressed romantic interest in that officer.
An audit found Eder searched for the man's license plate through the Flock system between February and June.
The charges allege Eder entered false investigative reasons to justify the searches. Those reasons included alcohol offenses, wanted persons, motor vehicle theft and hit-and-run crashes.
Investigators found no Amarillo Police Department calls, cases or assignments involving the man or his vehicle that corresponded with the reasons Eder provided for the searches, according to court records.
Complaint led to internal investigation
The Amarillo Police Department opened an internal investigation after the man filed a complaint, according to court records.
Eder was fired from the department on July 17.
