Those are the rumors we publish.
Without naming names, we were told by several somewhat credible sources that someone- a very prominent resident of Greensboro-- was in the car with former Greensboro City Councilman Zack Matheny that fated night when he was found parked in the parking lot of a methadone clinic on North Church Street, passed out drunk in his car, and cited by Greensboro Police for DWI.
But we couldn't prove it to be true.
So on July 19, 2016 we submitted the following public information request to the City of Greensboro in the hopes of clearing up the rumor once and for all.
GPD never denied a body camera video existed. Instead, on August 3, 2016, I was forwarded the following e-mail from the City of Greensboro:
We found that rather interesting as previously the Greensboro Police Department had previously stated that GPD did not regard Police body camera videos as employee records. Now suddenly they did. My reply: You'll notice among others, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and GPD Legal Jim Clark, are included recipients:
Today I received the following explanation, if you will, from the City of Greensboro. Read it carefully as I'm going to use parts of it to show you how these people are either hiding something they don't want you to know, or too stupid to realize how the public will react to their efforts at hiding the truth.
From the e-mail posted above:
"The City has determined that you are not depicted, visually or through audio recording, in the recording you are requesting, and you are not the personal representative of a person depicted in the recording you are requesting."
That's very true, I'm not Zack Matheney and my name is not the name of the person whose name is being circulated as being in the car with Mr Methany that night. But they also wrote the following:
"The City Manager or City Council, however, may disclose or release a Body Worn Camera recording to any person, personal representative, or the general public upon a finding that the release of the recording is essential to maintain public confidence in the administration of City services."
And this:
"There has been no finding that the release of the recording you seek is essential to maintain public confidence in the administration of City services. "
Kinda makes you wonder why not?
Should I demand a hearing with the Greensboro Police Community Review Board or just allow the rumor to continue unchecked?
I mean, Folks, I'm already suing the City of Greensboro with an open and shut case for failing to properly comply with State Public Records laws and they're stupid enough to keep doing what they're doing? Go figure.
Update: August 23, 2016, 10:09 AM. I just sent to following e-mail to Zack Methany and others as Mr Methany has the legal authority to clear his own name. Will he do so?
Update 2: August 24, 2016, In response to the City's response, Dishonesty reigns by Roch Smith jr, A very scathing account pointing out the lies being perpertrated by the City of Greensboro concerning this matter.
