And getting to the truth is worth it!

https://examplepro.me/2018/01/03/buff-the-bounty-hunter/

 

I REPORT HSS YOU DECIDE!!!

 

Recently memories of watching the old TV Series “Wanted Dead or Alive” starring Steve McQueen who played a Bounty Hunter keep popping into my head since I have been trying to run down exactly when Scott Maclay issued a “Bounty” on the head of Sheriff Knezovich which the Sheriff documents in his official police report concerning the arrest of Scott Maclay and has resulted in him sleeping with a double-barreled shotgun next to his bed.

Needless to say, “The Buff” isn’t much of a “Bounty Hunter” because so far, I sure as hell can’t come up with any public or private announcement by Maclay of a Bounty on the life of Sheriff Knezovich.

The only thing I can come up with is the odd reference to a Facebook post made by Maclay in a failed attempt on the part Bob West, Ozzie Knezovich, and Brandi Peetz to obtain an Anti-Harassment Temporary Order of Protection.

 

What is odd to me about this evidence submitted in the denied TPO request is that it is a copy of a Facebook post made by Maclay on July 24, 2017 and copied two hours after he posted it on the Rattlesnakes Motorcycle Club Facebook page, especially odd since it does not include the image which accompanied the words Maclay wrote, nor did it include the comments made by Marta Peetz (Sister of Brandi Peetz’s husband), Scott Maclay, and Gary Babcock over 22 Weeks ago.

Everyone can certainly draw their own conclusions as to whether or not Maclay’s Facebook post was publicly placing a “Bounty” on the LIFE of anyone, but for me and taken in context along with the photo of the defaced Caleb Collier campaign sign as well as the comments associated with the post I draw the conclusion Maclay was offering a reward for people defacing campaign signs and not a “Bounty” on someone’s life.

Checking the Facebook edit history it shows that the photo of the defaced Collier sign was posted on July 24, 2017 at 3:11 PM another edit to the post took place at 6:02 PM the same day. Since according to Maclay he has never been contacted by any law enforcement authorities regarding death threats or a bounty I contacted him via email for a statement. Maclay states that he did that day (July 24, 2017), he was unsure of the time, delete the names Brandi Peetz and Sheriff Knezovich from the original post, thinking it was not a good idea to specifically name them if they actually weren’t the ones defacing signs. Maclay further stated that the term “Clique-of-Bitterness” is a term used by Ed Pace to describe a group of individuals which includes Knezovich, Peetz, and West. Maclay also stated that the image of the defaced Collier sign was always included in the original post and the comments of Marta Peetz’s and Greg Babcock seem to support his statement. Maclay continues to deny ever having threatened the life of Knezovich, Peetz, or West. He does however admit that in retrospect using the term “beating” in the post was inappropriate and campaign sign defacers should simply be reported to the police or held until the police arrive, but he was not in any way threatening anyone’s life as has been alleged.

Also interesting is the Facebook share data. Obviously Maclay would share the post with his “Dump Ozzie” FB page on July 24, 2017, but he also shared it with “The William Tell Project” Facebook page, which I hadn’t heard of before and turns out to be…well…interesting.

I can’t help but wonder if the Judge denying the “3” Petitioners” the Anti-Harassment TPO, among other things, went back and actually checked Maclay’s Facebook post.

I also can’t help but wonder if since Robert West is the only one to sign the Anti-Harassment TPO under the penalty of perjury we might be seeing the other two Petitioners Knezovich and Peetz throwing Bob West under the bus.

If you are interested in reading the entire Anti-Harassment TPO attempt, you can find it at this link.

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/5bfd40d7-ccc4-49ae-a9dc-c8bee70b1100

As I have reported in previous stories Sheriff Knezovich is being very uncooperative when it comes to providing me with information regarding the yearlong investigation into death threats made by Maclay against his life, as well as the “Bounty” Maclay placed on his life, however if you read the Anti-Harassment TPO you might have noticed leads for me that have been provided. On two occasions in the TPO it states that the FBI is investigating the allegation that Maclay put a “Bounty” on his life.

Needless to say, I’m in position where as an Investigative Reporter I must again ask Ozzie, and submit a FOIA to the FBI regarding their investigation of the “Bounty” …such is life I guess!

 

I REPORT HSS YOU DECIDE!!!

 

I have very little control over when I come into possession of documents relating to Criminal Justice Issues, believe it or not sometimes it is over Holidays or on Weekends despite what some might think. Inevitably, once I come into possession of certain documents often it requires a Public Records Request not only to confirm authenticity but also to try and get the full story. Obviously, this doesn’t make me real popular with Public Records Clerks but someone in the Media must do this kind of stuff to try and keep OUR employees honest and above board.

The PRR I submitted today could easily have some far-reaching effects on several issues including a very high-profile Criminal Case, as well as the “Good Old”, “Lets hide this sucker it makes us look awful!”, the same things I ran into with the Officer Chris McMurtrey case, a case where Chief Craig Meidl publicly admitted would not have seen the light of day if it weren’t for my PRR. Like the McMurtrey case the information I am seeking is over a year old and may not have ever come to light because of the SPD transparency problem.

At this point I have reached out to some folks to get some answers from them regarding their handling of the case, and I will tread somewhat lightly until I get answers from them.

We will have to see how this one turns out, but based on what I do have in the way of documents it could get real ugly and explain why top City Administrators aren’t onboard about letting the Public know about improprieties.

 

Stay tuned…even on Weekends and Holidays it could get interesting.

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

 

Ozzie is somewhat notorious for reacting to media stories that he feels don’t put him in a good light, whether it be the Spokesman Review, The Inlander, TV Folks, or me. Well as you can see from our email exchange today once again it is this humble reporter he chooses to take a shot at.

I always offer Ozzie a chance to comment or correct anything in my stories, up until today he has been completely ignoring me, however today something must have really set him off, so he gave me (rhetorically speaking) the wrong end of that shotgun he keeps by his bed because of Maclay.

Some of his emails are just plain…well…crazy!

This one in particular is comical to me, although it might not be too comical if used in a criminal or civil case:

It is hard to say if Ozzie was referring to the 1981 movie starring Paul Newman and Sally Fields which did deal with libel and journalism, or this:

________________________

Public figure doctrine (absence of malice)

In the United States, special rules apply in the case of statements made in the press concerning public figures, which can be used as a defense. A series of court rulings led by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) established that for a public official (or other legitimate public figure) to win a libel case in the United States, the statement must have been published knowing it to be false or with reckless disregard to its truth (also known as actual malice).

Under United States law, libel generally requires five key elements: the plaintiff must prove that the information was published, the plaintiff was directly or indirectly identified, the remarks were defamatory towards the plaintiff’s reputation, the published information is false, and that the defendant is at fault.

_________________________

 

My best guess is Ozzie was referring to the “Public figure doctrine” as a veiled threat to me that he might sue me. Kind of like the lawsuit Ozzie helped Travis Pendell bring against Deplorables Matt Shea and Scott Maclay in which I have no doubt the “Public figure doctrine” will come into play.

https://examplepro.me/2017/11/05/story-updates-we-got-a-messwhy-is-deputy-travis-pendell-a-brady-cop/

Heck, after 40 plus years in the investigative business I’m so used to threats it has become second nature for me to just say; “Poop or get off the pot Dude!”, you will just love the counter suit and I ain’t no “Public figure”.

 

Yes, it is true, reporters do sometimes work on Holidays… and weekends. I think the public photo of Ozzie and his wife Paula is kind of sweet and humanizing. Maclay of course types every word for me and has final edit authority on all my stories, and where in the hell is that assault report Ozzie…records doesn’t have it have you got it hidden away somewhere? Okay…got it the Death Threat Investigation has exceeded a year and is ongoing…so cough up the reports!

So, Ozzie just tell all of us exactly when and where Maclay assaulted you wife and simply cough up the Assault Report…it’s a really simple concept?

 

Where in the hell is the Death Threat Investigation Report Ozzie? The Pend Oreille County Prosecutor doesn’t have it, the Spokane County Prosecutor Doesn’t have it, and Records doesn’t have it, so who the hell does have this mysterious report Ozzie?

 

The truth is when Ozzie overtly displays his “radicalized hatred” for all the Deplorables, including recently in front of witnesses, he not only makes a fool of himself but also his entire office and the good Deputies therein, to say nothing of the Prosecutors Office. We Deplorables are going to have to get together and compare notes on how many times Ozzie has gone to Larry Haskell trying to get one of us charged with a crime like Ozzie recently did with me… I bet it will take me all the upcoming weekends and Holidays to PRR all of those meetings! 🙂

 

 

I REPORT HSS YOU DECIDE!!!