Judge orders Fostoria chief to give records to attorney

5/7/2002

TIFFIN - A judge has ordered Fostoria's police chief to give an attorney records regarding a robbery suspect.

In a decision filed yesterday in Seneca County Common Pleas Court, Judge Michael Kelbley said Chief Dennis Day had no right to withhold the records from attorney John Kahler. Mr. Kahler represents Rodney Hampton, who was indicted in March in connection with the holdup of another man.

"Public agencies have no right not to respond," Judge Kelbley wrote. "Whether or not Mr. Kahler had received the information from another source is irrelevant. It is not a case of no harm, no foul. The foul is an utter failure to comply with the request."

In his complaint, Mr. Kahler said he began requesting documents in March but did not get a response from Chief Day.