St. Johns officer files report on 'suspicious' AP reporter

Officer Creig Wallace Jr. of the St. Johns Police Department filed a "suspicious person" report on Associated Press reporter Jacques Billeaud after he requested records as part of the Arizona public records access audit.

The report reads:

"On 10/22/2001 at 1610 hours, I was at the St. Johns Police Department, when a white male, later identified as Jaques (sic) Billeaud, entered the building. He stated he wanted the crime log for the past 48 hours. I asked him why he wanted it. He said under the freedom of information act, he did not have to give me a reason. I then asked what company or agency he was with. He stated, 'I don't have to give out that information, either.'

"I then asked him for some identification, at which point he produced an Arizona drivers license. I asked dispatch for wanted and warrants check. Dispatch said he had no current warrants and had a valid drivers license. I then called Sgt. Donny Jones and told him what Mr. Billeaud was asking for. Sgt. Jones told me not to release any of the crime log (DR# log) to Mr. Billeaud. He said if Mr. Billeaud wanted information on a closed case we could give it to him for the cost of $5.00.

"I told Mr. Billeaud what I had been told. He then demanded to speak to someone higher up. I told him I could contact Chief of Police Jim Zieler and let him speak to the chief about the log if he wanted me to. He said he did, so I had the secretary, Tammy Poe, contact Chief Jim Zieler. Chief Zieler spoke with Mr. Billeaud about the log. Mr. Billeaud then left the building and drove next door to the St. Johns Unified School district office. After about twenty minutes he left.

"I was then informed by Tammy Poe and records clerk Susan Smith that Mr. Billeaud had gone to the City hall and obtained some records there, as well as going to the Apache County Sheriff's Office and trying to obtain their crime log records.

"Case has been turned over to the Chief of Police for review."