More breaking news in the 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings matter, as the Salt Lake Tribune reveals new information obtained via a recently-completed GRAMA request. Here's the lede:
The investigation into Matthew David Stewart, who is charged with murdering an Ogden police officer and shooting five others, began in September when someone told police she had seen marijuana growing in his basement, according to documents released Tuesday.Read the full story here:
The Salt Lake Tribune, through a request under the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act, obtained Ogden police reports about Stewart written prior to the Jan. 4 shootout at his home. The Ogden Police Department redacted Stewart’s name and that of the tipster, but the address and other descriptions in the reports match Stewart.
The tip about the marijuana grow is described in one paragraph written by an Ogden patrol officer on Sept. 15.
The tipster "stated that she has personally seen a hydroponics grow in [Stewart’s] basement," the report says. "She stated that it produces approximately 12-15 marijuana plants. [Redacted] then keeps the the [sic] marijuana in a freezer. He also sells some."
Further down the story, citing information in one of several GRAMA'd police reports, SLTrib reporter Chris Carlisle makes reference to an ex-girlfiend who contacted Ogden police on September 10 to report her concern that the suspect, Stewart, may have attempted to break into her apartment. Although the Trib editors carefully issue the disclaimer that "[i]t’s not clear from the documents whether the complainant in the door episode is the same woman who told police about the marijuana grow," it's still not much of a stretch to speculate that the ex-girlfriend, a co-worker with Stewart at Wal-mart, may be the confidential informant who got the ball rolling on the this whole tragic affair.
The possible moral to this chapter of this story?
Howbout "Be extra nice to your ex."
