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S.D. A.G. Jackley Releases 2026 Police Management Study
PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 (TNSrpt) -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases 2026 Police Management Study
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - Attorney General Marty Jackley has released the 2026 Police Management Study compiled by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation's Statistical Analysis Center (SAC).
"This survey gives South Dakota Police Departments a better way to compare expenditures and resources to other offices their same size," said Attorney General Jackley. "We hope this survey will provide
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PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 (TNSrpt) -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases 2026 Police Management Study
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - Attorney General Marty Jackley has released the 2026 Police Management Study compiled by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation's Statistical Analysis Center (SAC).
"This survey gives South Dakota Police Departments a better way to compare expenditures and resources to other offices their same size," said Attorney General Jackley. "We hope this survey will providedepartments with ideas on how to handle many of the same issues they face in their own communities."
Surveys were sent to all 66 police departments in South Dakota, excluding tribal agencies, between April and June of this year. Responses were received from 43 departments, which is a 65 percent response rate. The survey asked for information on topics such as expenditures, revenues, staffing numbers and policies.
The Police survey alternates each year with a similar study conducted of the sheriff's offices. This was the 21st year for the Police Department Survey.
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REPORT: https://atg.sd.gov/docs/2026%20Police%20Study%20FINAL%203.pdf
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3165
S.D. A.G. Jackley Announces South Dakota Circuit Court Rules Murder Defendant Received Effective Defense Counsel
PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces South Dakota Circuit Court Rules Murder Defendant Received Effective Defense Counsel
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces a South Dakota Circuit Court has ruled a woman sentenced to prison for murder received effective defense counsel.
Maricela Diaz and Alexander Salgado were accused of killing Jasmine Guevarra in 2009 in a rural area of Hanson County. Salgado was sentenced to life in prison after
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PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces South Dakota Circuit Court Rules Murder Defendant Received Effective Defense Counsel
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces a South Dakota Circuit Court has ruled a woman sentenced to prison for murder received effective defense counsel.
Maricela Diaz and Alexander Salgado were accused of killing Jasmine Guevarra in 2009 in a rural area of Hanson County. Salgado was sentenced to life in prison afterpleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Diaz, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was tried in adult court. She was convicted by a Minnehaha County Jury of First Degree Murder, Felony Murder Arson, First Degree Arson, Felony Murder Aggravated Kidnapping, and Second Degree Aggravated Kidnapping. She received an 80-year prison sentence for First Degree Murder and a concurrent 50-year sentence for Second-Degree Aggravated Kidnapping.
South Dakota's Supreme Court upheld the murder conviction.
Diaz filed a Habeas Corpus petition in Hanson County Circuit Court stating that she did not receive effective defensive counsel. An evidentiary hearing on her request was held in that court this past February.
The court ruled that Diaz failed to show that her counsel's performance was deficient or deprived her of a fair trial.
"Diaz was not convicted due to any error of her trial counsel. She was convicted because the evidence of her role in this murder was conclusive," said Attorney General Jackley. "This ruling brings this case a step closer to final justice for Jasmine and her family."
The Attorney General's Office represented the State at the Circuit Court hearing.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3167
S.D. A.G. Jackley Announces Full Federal Appeals Court Grants Hearing on State's Ballot-Question Petition Law
PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces Full Federal Appeals Court Grants Hearing on State's Ballot-Question Petition Law
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit will hear oral arguments in January 2027 on the state's appeal of a lower federal court ruling that prohibits the state from enforcing a new law that moved the election-year filing deadline for b allot-question petitions from May
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PIERRE, South Dakota, Oct. 3 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces Full Federal Appeals Court Grants Hearing on State's Ballot-Question Petition Law
Oct. 2, 2026
PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit will hear oral arguments in January 2027 on the state's appeal of a lower federal court ruling that prohibits the state from enforcing a new law that moved the election-year filing deadline for b allot-question petitions from Mayto February.
"I appreciate the full 11-member Appeals Court granting the State's request to hear arguments on South Dakota's election law," said Attorney General Jackley. "In South Dakota, the right of our citizens to govern ourselves through the Election Petition process is our right. The South Dakota Legislature and our Governor reached a fair solution to our petition process and the ballot-question petition deadline."
The 2025 South Dakota Legislature passed, and the Governor signed a bill moving the filing deadline for ballot-question petitions from May to February. Dakotans for Health had appealed that bill on the grounds that it reduced the circulation window for gathering petitions by three months.
A South Dakota federal court ruled for Dakotans for Health. That ruling was upheld by a 2-1 panel decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Attorney General Jackley then requested a hearing before the full Appeals Court.
The January oral arguments will be held in St. Louis, Mo.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3166
Okla. A.G. Drummond Notifies Federal Court of Sara Polston's Removal From GPS Program
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Oct. 3 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release:
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Drummond notifies federal court of Sara Polston's removal from GPS program
OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 2, 2026) - Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office today notified a federal court that Sara Polston has been removed from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' GPS surveillance program and reassigned to a correctional facility. The move stems from an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations that she voted illegally as a convicted felon.
Polston is serving an eight-year
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Oct. 3 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release:
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Drummond notifies federal court of Sara Polston's removal from GPS program
OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 2, 2026) - Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office today notified a federal court that Sara Polston has been removed from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' GPS surveillance program and reassigned to a correctional facility. The move stems from an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations that she voted illegally as a convicted felon.
Polston is serving an eight-yearsentence for a 2023 drunk-driving crash that seriously injured a young woman. She was released early to the GPS ankle monitoring program after just 73 days behind bars. A Multi-County Grand Jury report released in May found her early release resulted from political favoritism by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
According to today's notice, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, the Department of Corrections reassigned Polston from the Electronic Monitoring Program to the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center on Oct. 1. Polston is accused of voting in both the June 16 and Aug. 25 statewide elections. State law bars people from voting while they're serving a felony sentence.
"Sara Polston has again shown Oklahomans that she believes she does not have to be held accountable for her actions," Drummond said. "She belongs in prison for causing an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol that resulted in great bodily injury to an innocent young woman. Now, she has used her highly controversial and inappropriate release to the Department of Corrections GPS surveillance program to again flout the law. The reality is that no one, including Sara Polston, is above the law."
Polston filed a federal lawsuit in August seeking to block her removal from the GPS program under Senate Bill 137, which goes into effect Nov. 1. Today's notice states her reassignment was based on the program's own rules, not the new law.
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Read the filing here: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/october/Polston%20-%20Notice%20Regarding%20Program%20Assignment.pdf
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/october/drummond-notifies-federal-court-of-sara-polston-s-removal-from-gps-program.html
Md. A.G. Brown: Body-Worn Camera Footage Release Delayed in August Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Bel Air
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Body-Worn Camera Footage Release Delayed in August Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Bel Air
10/2/2026
BALTIMORE, MD - The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General today announced a delay in the release of the body-worn camera footage of the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland.
The delay in the release of the footage is the result of the need for additional
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Body-Worn Camera Footage Release Delayed in August Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Bel Air
10/2/2026
BALTIMORE, MD - The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General today announced a delay in the release of the body-worn camera footage of the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland.
The delay in the release of the footage is the result of the need for additionaltime to conduct interviews.
Per IID protocols, "The IID will generally release body-worn and/or dashboard camera footage within 20 business days after the incident. There may be situations where more than 20 business days are necessary, including, but not limited to: investigators needing more time to complete witness interviews; technical delays caused by the need to redact information that raises privacy or safety concerns; or allowing family members or subject officers to view the video before it is released to the public. There may also be situations where the IID releases video sooner than 20 days where there is a substantial public interest in doing so. If the release of video is delayed, the IID will notify the public there's been a delay and state the reason for the delay."
To read the original news release, click here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/Pages/Independent-Investigations-Division-Investigating-Fatal-Police-Involved-Shooting-in-Bel-Air.aspx
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Body-Worn-Camera-Footage-Release-Delayed-in-August-Fatal-Police-Involved-Shooting-in-Bel-Air.aspx
Md. A.G. Brown Announces No Charges Will Be Filed in July 5, 2026 Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in City of Baltimore
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Announces No Charges Will Be Filed in the July 5, 2026 Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore
BALTIMORE, MD (October 2, 2026) - Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the July 5, 2026 fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that the subject officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law.
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Announces No Charges Will Be Filed in the July 5, 2026 Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore
BALTIMORE, MD (October 2, 2026) - Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the July 5, 2026 fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that the subject officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law.
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, at approximately 1:23 a.m., a Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) helicopter received a license plate reader alert for a black minivan that had been reported stolen during an armed carjacking on July 4, 2026, in Baltimore County. The minivan was located at the intersection of Riggs Avenue and Fulton Avenue in the city of Baltimore, where a BPD patrol officer attempted to block it with his patrol vehicle. The driver, later identified as Maurice Daniels, maneuvered around the patrol vehicle and fled the location. BPD officers, including Officers Charles Blackman, Al-Shakier Drake, Antonio Groomes, Darrius Hicklin, and David Weldon, and Sergeant Kevin Rivera, pursued the vehicle until it came to a stop in the 3300 block of Clifton Avenue in Baltimore City.
Multiple officers approached the minivan and ordered Daniels to exit the vehicle, but he did not comply. One officer, equipped with a window breaking tool, holstered his weapon and prepared to break the driver's side window. At the same time, Officer Groomes approached the vehicle and reached for the driver's side door handle in an attempt to open the door. Before Officer Groomes made contact with the door handle, he shouted, "Hands, hands, hands." Daniels raised both hands in response. As Officer Groomes was issuing commands, Daniels began lowering his right hand. Officer Groomes yelled, "Gun, gun, gun." The officer with the window breaking tool shattered the window, and the subject officers discharged their weapons, striking Daniels. A black BB pistol was recovered from Daniels' right hand. Daniels was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal police-involved shooting on Sunday, July 5, 2026, and concluded its investigation on September 24, 2026. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the subject officers in this case.
A copy of the IID's detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-No-Charges-Will-Be-Filed-in-the-July-5,-2026-Fatal-Police-Involved-Shooting-in-the-City-of.aspx
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Announces Conviction and Sentencing of Yuma Physician in $36.5 Million Medicaid Fraud Case
PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 3 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces Conviction and Sentencing of Yuma Physician in $36.5 Million Medicaid Fraud Case
October 2, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today the conviction of Irfan Fazil, M.D., on four felony counts for orchestrating a massive fraud scheme against the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
Fazil was convicted on September 4, 2026, of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (class 2 felony), Illegal Control of an Enterprise (class 3 felony),
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 3 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces Conviction and Sentencing of Yuma Physician in $36.5 Million Medicaid Fraud Case
October 2, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today the conviction of Irfan Fazil, M.D., on four felony counts for orchestrating a massive fraud scheme against the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
Fazil was convicted on September 4, 2026, of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (class 2 felony), Illegal Control of an Enterprise (class 3 felony),Theft (class 2 felony), and Illegal Procurement of a Dangerous Drug (class 3 felony) after entering a guilty plea. A State Grand Jury had indicted him on six felony counts on June 8, 2026. Fazil was sentenced in Yuma County Superior Court on October 2, 2026.
"Dr. Fazil abused his position as a physician to steal more than $36 million from a taxpayer funded program that exists to provide health care to Arizona's most vulnerable residents," said Attorney General Mayes. "He billed for thousands of X-rays and other medical treatments that could not possibly have been performed and treated AHCCCS as his personal bank account. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute fraud in government programs to protect tax dollars."
As part of his plea deal entered by the court, Fazil will serve 7.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections followed by 7.0 years of probation. He will forfeit all of his assets -- including real estate, medical facilities, vehicles, multiple aircraft, jewelry, luxury handbags, U.S. currency, cryptocurrency, and gold bars -- surrender his medical license and DEA registration, and pay $36,542,901.45 in restitution to AHCCCS.
Between July 1 and December 31, 2025, Fazil used three business entities -- Bio Family Clinic, Inc., Yuma Mobile X-Ray, and Yuma Kidney & Dialysis -- to bill AHCCCS for tens of thousands of radiology services, including X-rays, ECGs, CT scans, medical treatments, and ultrasounds. His entities collected $36.5 million in AHCCCS payments in that six-month period, compared to $4.7 million over the preceding two and a half years -- a 671% increase in paid claims.
Investigators focused on the 27 patients with the highest billing volumes. In one case, a single patient's account was billed for more than 1,700 X-rays in six months -- a physically impossible number that would have caused serious harm from radiation exposure -- along with hundreds of other radiology services.
Fazil also wrote his wife, Nadia Hanif, multiple prescriptions for drugs like Clonazepam while she was outside the United States, then picked up the prescriptions himself from the pharmacy.
The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Arizona Attorney General's Office Special Investigations Section. Fazil was indicted by the Attorney General's Office in a major medicaid fraud crackdown in June 2026.
The Attorney General's Office thanks its law enforcement partners from the DEA, FAA, Yuma Police Department. Yuma County Sheriff's Office, AHCCCS OIG, HHS OIG for their assistance on this investigation.
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-announces-conviction-and-sentencing-yuma-physician-365-million
