DECEMBER 13, 2015
UPDATE: Louisa Police Chief Greg Fugitt and Mayor Harold Slone invited family members of Billy Collins’ last Wednesday to look at the police body cam video of the taser death. Collins’ ex-wife, Angie, and his sister Amanda were able to see the video. Collins’ son, also named Billy, said. “I couldn’t watch it but my mom and sister did and they said it “wasn’t good to watch,” Collins said. This was after The Lazer filed three open records requests on the same day (Wednesday). Collins, who is the executor of his father’s estate, said his attorney, Greg Tobin has not been allowed to see the video as yet, either. Collins said he was told the investigation is still open at least partly because the autopsy has not been completed. But ThelevisaLazer.com on behalf of the public has not been given any information in the case — yet.
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE: ‘WE HAVE SEARCHED BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND DOCUMENTS’ IN BILLY COLLINS TASER CASE’
Opinion Comes After Open Records Request Denials By Melvin’s Office and Kentucky State Police; THREE DIFFERENT DENIALS – THREE DIFFERENT EXCUSES…
Investigation is not closed, KSP says
FRANKFORT, Ky. — In a bizarre and somewhat stunning development, a letter from The Office of the Attorney General in Frankfort revealed in its content the statement that an open records request made by Thelevisalazer.com in regards to gaining access to all evidence of the Louisa police custody death investigation of the late Billy J. Collins on May 29, 2015, the Ky. Attorney General’s Office said that any evidence in the Collins case (including the alleged tasering & use of physical force video or videos of Collins) “could not be located.” (See letter below).
The AG reply comes just a three days after two separate open records requests to both Commonwealth’s Attorney Anna Melvin and the Kentucky State Police were also denied — with each office giving different reasons for denying the open records request and refusing to divulge the Collins evidence that was presented to a Lawrence County Grand Jury on November 12.
The copy of the Attorney General open records request:
In a one page response Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anna Melvin stated that her office is “exempt” from releasing the evidence, and the material that was in the possession of their office is copies made for them by the Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland, and that the Lazer should contact them about receiving the records for review. The KSP had earlier referred The Lazer to Ms. Melvin’s office.
Melvin’s office further indicated in referrencing the case file that their refusal in releasing the Collins evidence was that a potential civil lawsuit in regards to the Collins case is possible and they did not want to interfere with such a case.
Kentucky State Police spokesperson Emily M. Perkins responded with a one page reply and said the “KSP does not create or maintain records from the court system. Any request for the court records should be made to the Lawrence Circuit Clerk”. (Lawrence Circuit Clerk Jodi Parsley said the only records she has in her office is the one page grand jury form that simply says “no true bill was issued because of lack of evidence”.)
Further, the court case status does not dictate the status of the Kentucky State Police investigation into the case. Please be advised that the KSP investigation is still open and accordingly your request is denied.”
The evidence is now officially off-limits to all news media; no matter how big or small the agencies who attempt to make inquiries or take lawful legal action to seek access.
The game of musical chairs being played by all the government and law enforcement agencies involved in the the Billy Collins sase, includes at least one scenario: (1.) One or more of the said official agencies involved are ‘deliberately’ attempting to hide the evidence in the Billy Collins case, so that it can never be viewed by the entire general public (besides those who were on the grand jury and family members).
Collins’ son, also named Billy Collins, has confirmed that the family has retained an attorney and will file a civil lawsuit in the case. He said his attorney has run into the same problem in getting copies of the grand jury proceedings and the evidence collected by the KSP. (See UPDATE above)
