Two protests next week will challenge attempts by El Paso County officials to seal autopsy reports for sheriff’s Deputy Micah Flick and suspected car thief Manuel Zetina, who were killed in a gunbattle in February.The Coroner’s Office petitioned last month to block the records from public release, saying the information contained in the reports “will cause a substantial injury to the public interest” and “cause additional stress and grief” to Flick’s family.But Flick and Zetina weren’t the only ones impacted by the shooting, protest organizer and shooting witness Michael DeRossett said. Thomas Villanueva, 28, who was described by the Sheriff’s Office as an “innocent bystander,” got caught in the crossfire on his way home from lunch and was paralyzed from the chest down.DeRossett says Villanueva deserves to know why he wasn’t warned to stay away and who shot him — officers or Zetina?“Thomas simply needs … [Read more...] about Supporters of man wounded in police shootout rally for access to public records
Access to public records act
Mayor Turner’s former press secretary indicted for withholding public records
By Mike Morris Updated 9:54 pm CDT, Thursday, July 19, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-9', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 9', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle Image 1of/9 CaptionClose Image 1 of 9 Darian Ward, Mayor Sylvester Turner's former press secretary, shown here in 2016 photo. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )Scroll through to see allegations in her suspension letter Darian Ward, Mayor Sylvester Turner's former press secretary, shown here in 2016 photo. ( Steve … [Read more...] about Mayor Turner’s former press secretary indicted for withholding public records
El Paso County coroner seeking to block release of Deputy Micah Flick’s autopsy, continuing pattern of shielding public records
How did El Paso County Deputy Micah Flick die?Law enforcement has answered the question with the bare minimum — that Flick was fatally wounded in a shootout while the Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement task force was attempting to arrest suspected car thief Manuel Zetina on Feb. 5. But details such as who shot Flick, the number of gunshot wounds he sustained, and how three other law enforcement officers were wounded in the same scuffle remain unanswered.And they could forever remain unanswered if El Paso County Coroner Robert Bux has his way.Bux is petitioning the 4th Judicial District Court to block the release of Flick’s and Zetina’s autopsy reports. Such reports routinely include information about the number of injuries sustained, bullet trajectory, toxicology, among others. The Gazette and the Colorado Springs Independent had requested the reports under the Colorado Open Records Act, and are partnering to hire legal counsel to fight for transparency.Bux … [Read more...] about El Paso County coroner seeking to block release of Deputy Micah Flick’s autopsy, continuing pattern of shielding public records
Cohen, touting his access to President Trump, convinced companies to pay millions
Michael Kranish, Rosalind S. Helderman, Carolyn Y. Johnson and Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post Published 8:20 pm, Wednesday, May 9, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: … [Read more...] about Cohen, touting his access to President Trump, convinced companies to pay millions
Governor’s Office violated state Open Records Act in slow release of records, judge finds
The Governor’s Office and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety violated the state Open Records Act when they did not respond to a Tulsa World request for records in a “prompt and reasonable” manner, an Oklahoma County district judge ruled last week.The case involves records requests filed by the Tulsa World and former World editor Ziva Branstetter with the Governor’s Office and DPS within days after Clayton Lockett’s marred execution April 29, 2014. In addition to records related to Lockett’s execution, the lawsuit sought records related to the execution of Charles Warner.Branstetter is now senior editor for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting.In a ruling issued Friday, Judge Lisa Tipping Davis said that although the World’s request was not formally denied, “it is uncontroverted that no documents were produced prior to the lawsuit being filed.”Davis declined to provide an opinion regarding what constitutes … [Read more...] about Governor’s Office violated state Open Records Act in slow release of records, judge finds