MEMORANDUM
From: Michael J. Merritt, USN Retired/Writer
PO BOX 187
Newton, IA 50208
cipher.hunter@cipherphoenix.com
To: City of Newton, IA
101 W. 4th Street S.
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-2787
Subj: IOWA OPEN RECORDS REQUEST – CITY OF NEWTON, IA – #026 – ELIMINATION OF THE FOG OF WAR #02
Enc: 1. Memorandum – Michael J. Merritt – Freedom of Information Request to the City of Newton, Iowa – #003 – 04 JAN 2022
2. Memorandum – City of Newton, IA Attorney Matthew Brick – 10 MAR 2022
3. Electronic Mail – City of Newton, IA Chief of Police Robert Burdess – 01 APR 2022
4. Reference Database – https://airtable.com/shrCiPGYlGNM3TPhu
1. Introduction
Enclosure (1.) is the originator’s original request for, “All Newton, IA Police Department Iowa Incident Reports mentioning the names Michael Merritt, Michael J Merritt, Michael J. Merritt, or Michael James Merritt during 01 JUL 2018 at 0001 Local Time through 03 JAN 2022 at 2359 Local Time.”
Enclosure (2.) is the City of Newton, IA’s Attorney Matthew Brick of Brick Gentry PC’s response communicating, “There are certain records in response, specifically incident reports and call for service records mentioning the names in your request; however, peace officer investigative reports are exempt from public disclosure. See Iowa Code Section 22.7”
Enclosure (3.) is the City of Newton, IA Chief of Police Burdess’ response to Enclosure (1.) which provides evidence of a violation of Iowa Code Section 22.2(2.), “Mr. Merritt, Your request is being handled by our contracted City Attorney at Brick Gentry Law Firm. Please contact them with your questions regarding these requests”
Paragraph (2.) provides a list of records including corresponding evidence of the City of Newton, IA releasing Iowa Incident Reports to the Newton Daily News, specifically information Iowa Code Section 22.7(5) communicates cannot be withheld in accordance with this subsection.
At the same time, the City of Newton, IA has produced evidence of violating Iowa Code Section 22.7(5) in its response to Enclosure (1.) shown in Enclosure (3.). At the same time, City Attorney Matthew Brick of Brick Gentry PC’s 10 MAR 2022 response provides evidence of a misrepresentation of his client’s responsibilities as articulated in Iowa Code Section 22.7(5.) to a citizen requesting records in accordance with Iowa Code Section 22.
2. Requested Information
(a.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Christopher L. Cleveland on 13 JAN 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 116 No. 74. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(b.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving William J. Loveland on 05 FEB 2021. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 82. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(c.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Benjamin L. Benson on 25 DEC 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 68. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(d.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Daniel C. Kern on 20 NOV 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 65. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(e.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving John P. Payne on 14 OCT 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 47. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(f.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Roxanne R. Vanersvelde on 02 OCT 2022. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 44. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(g.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Kylie J. Doran on 24 SEP 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 43. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(h.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving John P. Payne on 13 SEP 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 41. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(i.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Terran A. Kern on 31 JUL 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(j.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Paul L. Harris on 13 MAY 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 08. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(k.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Terran A. Kern on 28 APR 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 06. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(l.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Jon D. Lamb on 19 APR 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 03. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(m.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving James C. Ryther on 21 APR 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 01. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(n.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Melody S. Ryther on 09 MAR 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 205. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(o.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Jessica L. Audas on 17 SEP 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 88. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(p.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Ricky L. Wells on 22 AUG 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 70. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(q.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Benny Kirichuk on 18 JUL 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 44. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(r.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Benny Kirichuk on 14 JUL 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 42. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(s.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Casey J. Brandt on 10 JUN 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 21. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(t.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Jason M. Nida on 31 MAR 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 225. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(u.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Stephan A. Barth on 22 FEB 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 203. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(v.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Dustin E. Schmidt on 22 DEC 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 53. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(w.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Casey J. Brandt on 26 OCT 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 114. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(x.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Casey J. Brandt on 08 SEP 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 79. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(y.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Chasten G. Ross on 27 AUG 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 75. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(z.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Lawrence C. Jefferson on 24 AUG 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 70. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(aa.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving James A. Garland on 22 JUL 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 117 No. 51. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ab.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Kenneth L. Fraaken on 20 JAN 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 116 No. 74. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ac.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Nathan R. Dunsmoor on 17 JAN 2018. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 170 No. 171. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ad.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Bryce Nel on 30 DEC 2017. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 116 No. 160. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ae.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Gregory A. Mitchell on 03 FEB 2021. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 82. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(af.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Benjamin T. Gordon on 14 DEC 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 68. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ag.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Roxanne R. Vanersvelde on 12 NOV 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 65. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ah.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Richard S. Harsh on 17 SEP 2019. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 118 No. 88. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
(ai.) Iowa Incident Report(s) documenting an incident involving Roxanne R. Vanersvelde on 08 DEC 2020. Data Collection Source: Shaw Media. (n.d.). Newton Daily News Archive. Newton Daily News Volume No. 119 No. 65. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.newtondailynews.com/online-newspaper/
Respectfully,
Michael J. Merritt, USN Retired/Writer
Founder: cipherphoenix.com
Creative Writer/Musician
Information Warfare Specialist
Information Systems Manager
PO BOX 187
Newton, IA 50208
cipher.hunter@cipherphoenix.com
