Need an accident report? Arkansas Court of Appeals rules you can take a photo of it or copy it with your own equipment for free

 

Attorney Ben Motal - LRPD and the City of Little Rock violated his rights under the AFOIA

 

Russ Racop - November 22, 2020

Back in May, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled that an individual can inspect and take photos of accident reports or scan them with their own equipment all free of charge. 

That ruling was in an appeal of a case filed by Little Rock Attorney Ben Motal, who had attempted to take a photo of an accident report at LRPD headquarters using his cellphone in October 2018.

LRPD stopped Motal from exercising his rights under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Motal subsequently filed a complaint in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Mackie Pierce held a hearing and upheld the decision of LRPD/CLR.

Motal appealed Judge Pierce's decision and the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled that Motal's rights had been violated and reversed the decision of the lower court. 

 Motal v Little Rock Appeal Decision by Russ Racop on Scribd

 

LRPD and the city were poorly represented by deputy city attorneys Caleb Garcia and Drew Middlebrooks according to the Opinion filed by Judge Kenneth Hixson.

Not so sharp Little Rock city attorneys Caleb Garcia and Drew Middlebrooks

Obviously, these two were not the top of their class and ended up taking steady public employment instead of going out on their own when no law firm made them offers.

The city has lost several similar lawsuits that we filed over FOI violations and will surely lose the ones we filed this year that are pending in Pulaski County Circuit Courts.

While the feckless mayor and the corrupt police chief claim transparency, no previous administration has had some many lawsuits filed against them for transparency/open records violations.

 

Pulaski County Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Andrew Abels arrested and charged with Domestic Battery and Terroristic Threatening

PCSO Deputy Abels - currently on Administrative Leave

 

Jordan Andrew Abels, a deputy with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office was arrested by Saline County Sheriff's Deputy Alex Hollaway on November 6, 2020 and charged with Domestic Battery 3rd Degree (a Class A misdemeanor) and Terroristic Threatening (a Class D felony).

The arrest stemmed from an incident on November 4th, in which Abels allegedly sent multiple messages to his wife, Kimberly Abels, in which he threatened to kill her.

She also provided a photograph showing an injury ffrom a choking incident in June 2020.

 

Court records revel that Kimberly Abels filed for and obtained an Order of Protection in Saline County on November 5th.

 Mrs. Abels also files for divorce today, November 10th in Saline County.

 

Kristin Knox, a communication specialist with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office confirmed Abels has been placed on administrative leave but has refused to provide a copy of his personnel file in violation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

 

FOI scofflaw Kristen Knox

We look forward to getting her on the witness stand in a AFOIA Denial of Rights action in Pulaski County Circuit Court and have her explaining that decision to a judge.

A female PCSO Deputy was arrested for domestic battery back in February 2020.

You can read about that by clicking here.

Stay tuned for updates.