State records director denies CBS appeal for Washington County surveillance video

Director Pearson denied an appeal by CBS News that sought surveillance video from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office showing Tyler Robinson’s surrender and related interactions.

In a hearing on Appeal No. 2025131, Kimberly Sullivan, counsel for CBS News, and petitioner Evan Cohen argued that the sheriff’s public statements describing the surrender and Robinson’s demeanor created a strong public interest in releasing the visual record and that portions of the footage could be segregated and released. Sullivan told the director that, as a visual news organization, CBS needed the video to confirm and illustrate previously disclosed accounts.

Utah County Attorney’s Office counsel Katrina Cole and intervenor counsel Stacy Visser urged denial. Cole warned that the videos contain statements made to law enforcement and could reasonably be expected to interfere with ongoing investigations and future enforcement proceedings; Visser emphasized the risk that images would deepen prejudicial coverage already saturating media and social platforms and could harm Robinson’s right to an impartial jury.

Director Pearson said he had reviewed the submitted materials and the records in camera. He concluded the footage is not fairly characterized as a booking image under the narrow statutory booking-image provision cited by petitioners but is properly classified as protected under GRAMA 63G-2-305(10)(a)-(c). He also found portions showing family members are private under 63G-2-302(2)(d). Balancing the interests, the director concluded the risk of interference with the investigation and of depriving Robinson of a fair trial is very high and that the public’s interest is substantially mitigated by prior law-enforcement disclosures. The appeal was denied; a written decision will issue in seven business days and may be appealed to district court within 30 calendar days.

The director recommended that any party seeking further relief pursue the district court review available under GRAMA. The decision emphasized that partial release or redaction was considered but did not, on balance, overcome the identified risks for these records.