Wasatch County to initiate the examination of the sheriff Jared Rigby

WASATCH COUNTY, UTAH – dozens of people on Wednesday at the County Council meeting of the Wasatch County packed the room to remove Sheriff Jared Rigby and Underheriff Josh Probst.

Although the time was lifted, the district must remove the article from the agenda to protect a criminal investigation that Rigby himself asked.

From 2009 to 2019, Todd Bonner served as a sheriff of Wasatch County. The Council originally brought the point to its agenda at its request. He now accuses the county of using the criminal investigation in order to prevent the public from commenting.

“I don't think we were heard,” said Bonner. “I don't think you are interested.”

A handful of officers recently left the department. Some of them took part in the council meeting to hand over copies of their resignation.

District manager Dustin Grabau said that the council takes all complaints seriously.

“I think there is a potential that some of the accusations are criminal,” confirmed Grabau.

Grabau also confirmed that Rigby himself had made the Cache County's office to initiate the examination.

He said he didn't know who the topic of the investigation could be.

“Probably the sheriff would not ask to be examined?” Asked Fox 13 News Investigative Reporter Adam Herbets.

“I don't know,” replied Grabau. “I can't talk to the reasons why it was called as it was.”

Retired MPs thought the timing considered suspicious. You asked for an FBI examination.

“My opinion is that another sheriff office in the state of Utah should not examine another sheriff,” said Bonner. “Things are too close.”

Not all allegations against Rigby or Probst are criminal. For these reasons, the district promised to stop a neutral third party to carry out an internal examination.

“We would like to employ a retired judge who is highly recommended that no connections to Wasatch County has and can operate independently so that they can provide an impartial review of potential guidelines or other violations,” said Grabau.

Some of the officers who left the Wasatch County's office cited bullying and intimidation by Rigby or Probst.

It is not the first time that Rigby is exposed to such accusations.

In 2022, Governor Spencer Cox Rigby chose Utahs – the director of the standards and training of Utah Peace Officer (Post) as one of the most powerful law enforcement officers.

Rigby's ceremony was canceled when the governor discovered a video published by Fox 13 News by Rigby.

The video from September 2021 shows Rigby, who is accused of accusing Lucas McTaggart, an official from the Heber City police department, and being suspected.

Rigby interviewed McTaggart as part of an investigation of internal affairs in Heber City PD boss Dave Booth.

McTaggart and others accuse the status of excessive violence. Bodycam video shows the cabin, which places his hand in handcuffs around the neck of a man.

Records from this study show that Rigby Booth has never interviewed, but argue with McTaggart.

“There is no excessive violence, so their perception is wrong,” says Rigby.

A review of the full video shows several parts of the interview in which Rigby in McTaggart's potential lack of future is discussed in the department.

• Rigby said he had received the authority to make explanations on behalf of Heber City, and the city would “honor” it. (37:48)

• McTaggart: “What you say does not change my perspective what I saw. Nothing will change that. So we're here, right?”
  • Rigby: “Well, Lucas, it really depends on the future – your future in the police department. So you can dig into the heels and say: 'This is how I feel and nobody will change,' and okay, that's your decision. You just have no trustworthy positions (defensive tactics) that deal with the use of strength, and what you learn, and what you learn, and what you learn Solved, and what was loosened and what you were loosening and had to do (57:30)

• Rigby: “This is the determination. (1:15:45)

• Rigby: “The only way you can get into difficulties here is if you don't do what we asked you.” (1:18:42)

Commissioner Jess Anderson at the Ministry of Public Security said that he was concerned with Rigby's statements after checking the video.

“Why should you allow yourself to go a certain way of going, which seems to be apparently and was presented as threatening?” Anderson said in 2023. “Of course I have the obligation to further check this.”

Fox 13 News asked the district whether it was particularly concerned that similar allegations are made against Rigby.

“The more you hear it, the more serious it is that it applies under all of these circumstances,” said Grabau. “It doesn't have to be a lot of people so that we can look at something. We do our best to enter into complaints that will be raised. “

When he retired in 2019, Bonn's Rigby supported to take over the management as a sheriff.

It is a decision that Bonner says he regrets now.

“I think what really surprises me more than anything – those with whom I could serve? Worked by side with side? To see how they were treated. “

Bonner said he knew nothing about the McTaggart video until he looked at the Fox 13 News examinations.

“In my opinion, (Rigby) has not learned anything,” said Bonner. “I don't think there is a lot of difference. The bullying is (still). The intimidation factor is real. It happens. It happens in this whole office. “

Rigby resigned in 2022 as a sheriff of Wasatch County when he thought he would get the position of Utah Post Director. When he did not get the role, the Wasatch County Council left him back his resignation.

Rigby did not take part in Wednesday. He did not respond to FOX 13 messages for comments.