As part of a felony obstruction of justice investigation into Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby, Summit County searched the communications of top law enforcement officials in the Wasatch Back.
The search warrant sought the call and text records of Rigby, Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter and former Summit County Sheriff Dave Edmunds.
The investigation concerns Rigby’s alleged actions ahead of the high-profile Kouri Richins murder trial. The Summit County Attorney’s Office confirmed to KPCW in May it’s investigating Rigby for alleged felony obstruction of justice.
A sworn statement from the investigator who applied for the search warrant alleges that Carpenter’s and Edmunds’ communications may contain evidence to support that investigation.
Rigby says he acted lawfully.
Carpenter and Edmunds also deny wrongdoing, and their attorney says they are cooperating with the investigation.
In response to the warrant, Park City Mayor Ryan Dickey affirmed his trust in Carpenter’s leadership.
“While I’m unable to comment on this matter, Chief Carpenter’s nearly two-decade track record of excellence as both the chief of our police department and a leader internationally in his profession speaks for itself,” he said in a statement. “I have full confidence in his leadership of our police department.”
Greg Skordas, the attorney representing Carpenter and Edmunds, emphasized the court has only heard from investigators so far.
“The people discussed in the affidavit do not have an opportunity to respond, provide context or challenge the information presented,” he said in a statement. “The affidavit may therefore include allegations, interpretations, and information from third parties that has not been independently confirmed. Those claims have not been tried in a court proceeding, and the court’s authorization of a search does not mean the court has determined that they are true.”
He said his clients did not interfere with the Richins trial.
“They did not participate in any effort to fabricate or anonymously circulate allegations against Eric Mainord, pressure Mainord to withdraw from the sheriff’s race, or interfere with the prosecution of Kouri Richins,” he said. “They did not write or send the anonymous letter described in the report, nor did they direct anyone else to do so.”
Mainord was a lead Summit County detective in the Richins case. He filed to run against Rigby for Wasatch County sheriff but withdrew from the race before the primary. Prosecutors have said they are investigating a letter containing allegations about Mainord they received before the Richins trial.
Wade Carpenter has been the Park City police chief since 2008.
Dave Edmunds served three terms as Summit County sheriff after his election in 2002.
Jared Rigby was elected Wasatch County sheriff in 2018. He lost his bid for a third term in the June Republican primary.
Park City Municipal is a financial supporter of KPCW.
