Arizona shooting: Pima County Sheriff's Department, college won't release data on suspect

Why not? I suspect it's because the Sheriff is reluctant to release records that will make the Sheriff look like an incompetent boob. Of course, he's so incompetent that he doesn't realize that most of the free-thinking world realizes how incompetent and boob-ish he is already - a genuine halfwit, capable of ignoring a developing mass murderer in his own backyard, despite numerous reports and calls for help... while simultaneously maintaining a laser-like focus - even going so far as to blame - people who have nothing whatsoever to do with the tragic event. What a total meathead.

Sheriff's Department and community-college officials in Pima County are refusing to release a wide range of public documents about the man charged in Saturday's shooting rampage that left six dead and more than a dozen wounded.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department and Pima Community College have declined to release documents that could shed light on run-ins they had with 22-year-old Jared Loughner in the months prior to the shooting.

The Arizona Public Records Law requires that records be "open to inspection by any person at all times" unless officials can prove releasing the information would violate rights of privacy or confidentiality or otherwise harm the best interests of the state.

The Arizona Republic requested that records, including incident reports on campus and calls for dispatch of deputies to Loughner's home, be released under the law. Such reports are often released as a matter of course in criminal cases.

College officials have not indicated when or if they will release the information, saying they want prior approval from the FBI and are concerned about violating federal laws protecting the privacy of student information. The Republic did not request student academic records.

Pima Community College officials confirmed Saturday that they suspended Loughner after a series of outbursts in classrooms and the library, five of which involved campus police.

College Chancellor Roy Flores said Saturday the information would be released by Sunday. But by Tuesday, the information had not been released. College officials said the FBI wants to review any information first.

"The FBI has requested an opportunity to review information that may assist the bureau in its investigation of the incident prior to any media disclosure," said A. Rachelle Howell, assistant vice chancellor for marketing.

On Monday, The Republic requested copies of any reports from the Pima County Sheriff's Department involving contacts with Loughner or calls to his house. Pima County Deputy Rene Carlson said her office would not release the reports without a specific date, though this is not required by state statute.

Carlson said providing these documents would be tantamount to releasing criminal history.

Carlson said she could not speculate on the nature of any calls for service regarding Loughner. She also said no calls or incidents involved threats made by Loughner.

The Republic also requested the names of the people wounded in Saturday's shooting. The Sheriff's Department has not released any names, although names of several victims have emerged in media reports. The Sheriff's Department did not provide a reason for withholding the list.

Sean Holguin, a deputy county attorney representing the Sheriff's Office, said he "will respond substantively" to the request, possibly by Wednesday

Arizona shooting: Pima County Sheriff's Department, college won't release data on suspect