Files on Tufts University Car Bombing, May 2016 (Somerville Police Department)
| Multi Request | Files on Tufts University Car Bombing, May 2016 |
| Submitted | March 26, 2019 |
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Communications
From: Liam Knox
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
A copy of all incident reports, investigation updates or findings, notes from interviews with suspects, and email communications from your department regarding the arson committed on a Tufts University employee's car, and the corresponding bomb threat, that occurred on May 9, 2016. You can restrict your search to the time frame May 9, 2016-January 1, 2018. For reference, here is a Boston Globe article detailing the incident: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/05/09/car-fire-tufts-university-under-investigation/9ABrl92ou4rT5gOvcm5wsO/story.html
I am especially interested in any communications you have on file between the department and the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) regarding the investigation.
Also, please let me know what the current status of the investigation is, and when that status was declared or last updated.
I request that I be properly classified as a news media requester. I am an intern for MuckRock, and I am requesting this information in that editorial capacity. MuckRock is widely known for its investigative work as well as historical pieces based on public records requests. I also may bring the story to other outlets, including WickedLocal.com or The Tufts Daily, if I so choose.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Liam Knox
From: Somerville Police Department
Dear Liam,
In response to your public records request below, no reports are available for release as they are withheld pursuant to exemption (f) because the records you seek are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Exemption (f) of the Massachusetts public records law, the investigatory exemption, provides custodians a basis for withholding: investigatory materials necessarily compiled out of the public view by law enforcement or other investigatory officials the disclosure of which materials would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest. Exemption (f) allows investigative officials to withhold materials that could compromise investigative efforts if disclosed. It is the position of the SPD that exemption (f) applies to allow for the withholding of the responsive records to this request, as the responsive documents in the possession of the SPD are part of an ongoing criminal investigation by the SPD. Disclosure of the responsive records at this juncture would prejudice investigative efforts.
Contact information for the Records Access Officer is: Francis X. Wright, Jr., City Solicitor, City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143, Phone: (617) 625-6600 x 4400. Email: publicrecords@somervillema.gov.
You have the right to seek an administrative appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records under 950 CMR 32.08(1) and the right to seek judicial review by commencing a civil action in the superior court.
David Shapiro
David Shapiro
Assistant City Solicitor
City of Somerville
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-625-6600 Extn. 4409
Fax: 617-776-8847
dshapiro@somervillema.gov<mailto:dshapiro@somervillema.gov>
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