Ogden Shootings Story Update: Stewart Jailed Without Bond; Dispatch Tapes Released

Fascinating to observe how really quickly a GRAMA request can be submitted and filled, ainnit O Gentle Ones, when the government doesn't mendaciously drag its feet?

Three more significant developments in the 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings story:

1) "Matthew David Stewart, who was wounded in a Jan. 4 shootout that killed an Ogden police officer and wounded five other officers, was released Monday from the hospital and booked into Weber County Jail":

• Stewart released from hospital; booked into jail

Stewart is being held without bond, pursuant to Utah Code of Criminal Procedure § 77-20-1.

The story also reports the defendant is likely to be arraigned today.

2) This story continues to develop along the lines of a circus sideshow, as the Standard unveils the 1/4/12 dispatch tapes obtained from the Weber County Attorney's Office through a Standard-Examiner state Government Records Access and Management Act request. Ace reporter Schwebke provides the story:

• Dispatch tapes reveal response to police shootings

In an odd S-E "companion story, Interim Police Chief Wayne Tarwater attempts to justify the release of these dispatch tapes, saying that "he believes the release of police tapes from the Jan. 4 shooting is a good thing":

• Tarwater says release of tapes will benefit public

Whether the release of this rather inflammatory audio information serves the greater public interest of ensuring a fair trial in this matter is an entirely different question, wethinks, a question which will no doubt be soon answered upon the filing by defense council of what we'll expect to be a near certainty in this case, a change of venue motion.

Fascinating to observe how really quickly a GRAMA request can be submitted and filled, ainnit O Gentle Ones, when the government doesn't mendaciously drag its feet?

Update 2/1/12 9:21 a.m.: The Standard now reports that the defendant, Stewart, was arraigned this morning, although the story does not report whether he entered any plea:

• Stewart makes first court appearance

Mr. Gurrister also reports that "Defense attorney Randy Richards told the court he was having trouble getting information he sought as part of his discovery motions," which strikes us as odd, inasmuch as the prosecution seems to still be having no trouble at publicly releasing information which is favorable to the prosecution.