What Should Have Happened
- Internal department matters should not be shared with civilians
- Communications about ongoing investigations should use official channels only
- Text messages about department business should be preserved per retention policies
- Information security protocols should govern sensitive incident details
What Actually Happened
- Multiple officers texted civilian Josh Goodrich about the arrest within hours
- Personal text messages were used instead of official communication channels
- Text messages were subsequently deleted and no longer available
- Friendship networks took precedence over chain of command
People Involved
Event Details
Event Summary
Within hours of Marc King ’s OWI arrest, information about the incident spread through informal channels to Joshua Goodrich , a civilian friend. Multiple officers communicated about the arrest via text messages that were later deleted.
Timeline of Information Flow
Morning (~3:00-4:00 AM)
- Damon Duva learns of arrest and retrieves Marc King from jail
- Chad Cronkright contacts Joshua Goodrich to inform him of the arrest
Evening (5:44 PM)
- Matthew Pohl texts Joshua Goodrich about the arrest
Sworn Testimony
Captain Pohl’s Text to Goodrich
Later that evening at 5:44 p.m. I texted Josh Goodrich, who I am friends with and talk daily with that Marc got an OWI.
Evidence of Deleted Communications
Captain Pohl admitted the texts no longer exist:
Whatever text messages or phone calls that I’d referenced in my internal report, I no longer have those on my phone.
Chad Cronkright’s Communications
Text message screenshots between Chad Cronkright and Joshua Goodrich were included in investigation files:
Between Chad Cronkright and Josh Goodrich, those are in there. There is a written statement from Chad Cronkright is in there.
Deputy Duva’s Text Communications
QDid you call or text with Marcus about his OWI arrest in 2022?
AI spoke with Marcus. I did not text him the night of his OWI arrest. No, I did not.
Why This Matters
1. Personal Relationships Influenced Information Flow
The arrest information spread through friendship networks rather than official channels:
- Pohl described Goodrich as someone he “talk[s] daily with”
- Cronkright also contacted Goodrich directly
- This demonstrates how personal relationships within the department affected how sensitive information was handled
2. Evidence Was Subsequently Deleted
Multiple officers admitted under oath that relevant text messages were deleted:
- Captain Pohl no longer has his text communications
- Deputy Duva was questioned about deleted texts
- This raises questions about evidence preservation
3. Pattern of Informal Communication
The flow of information to a civilian friend (Goodrich) while official investigation procedures were unclear demonstrates:
- Lack of information security protocols
- Potential conflicts of interest
- Informal networks taking precedence over chain of command
Connection to Other Events
- OWI Arrest: The underlying arrest that triggered these communications
- Evidence Deleted: Pattern of evidence deletion including these text messages
- Sheriff Notified: Official notification chain occurring in parallel
Open Questions
- Why was a civilian (Josh Goodrich) informed of internal department matters?
- What role did Goodrich play that warranted notification?
- Were any policies violated by sharing this information externally?
- What other communications were deleted?