June 26—CUMBERLAND — Maryland State Police on Tuesday reversed its previous decision to deny a request for a mugshot from a public official.
The Cumberland Times-News filed a request with state police under the Public Information Act on June 18 for the photo and any video of Del’s arrest. Jason Buckel on June 13.
Buckel, 52, a Republican, was first elected to the Maryland House of Representatives in 2014 and was named minority leader in 2021.
In addition to driving under the influence, he is charged with driving with a suspended driver’s license, failure to show a registration card and negligent driving endangering property, life and person.
“Maryland State Police arrested Jason Buckel on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 11:23 PM near Alternate Route 40 and Campground Road in Allegany County,” the Maryland State Police Office of Media Communications said via email on June 17.
On June 20, Maryland State Police Director of Analysis & Transparency Mark Urbanik said he could not release the mugshot or video.
“This letter is to inform you that I cannot comply with your request as the matter is pending review and is therefore protected from release under the Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article §4-351(b) (1),” he said.
On Tuesday, Urbanik said the newspaper’s call was being reconsidered.
“As such, we have agreed to release the mugshot in response to your request,” he said, handing over the photo.
However, the department’s stance on video release did not change.
“The discretionary denial applies because the premature release of the file could harm an ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution,” Urbanik said.
Case
Buckel’s case is scheduled for July 24 at 1 p.m. in Allegany County District Court before Judge Mimi Cooper.
Buckel said last week that he had not had too much to drink, had not driven his car erratically and had not been speeding before his arrest.
He said he went to a local sports-themed restaurant to watch a hockey game.
“I didn’t drink too many alcoholic drinks that evening, mainly because I wasn’t feeling well earlier in the afternoon and had taken some over-the-counter medications,” he said.
“About a mile from my house, an officer from behind me turned on his lights,” Buckel said.
He said that he will immediately address and resolve the matter.
“Rest assured, nothing of this nature will ever happen again, regardless of the outcome,” he said. “I regret that this incident ever occurred.”
PIA
According to the Maryland Attorney General’s website, the public’s right to know about government activities is “at the heart” of a democratic government.
“Maryland’s Public Information Act provides the people of this state with a broad right of access to public records, while protecting legitimate government interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens,” the website says.
A PIA is similar to the Freedom of Information Act, which applies to federal agencies.
“The PIA grants you the right to review available documents that may be made public and to obtain copies of those documents,” the website said. “It does not require an agency to answer informational questions or create a file to fulfill your request.”
Teresa McMinn is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. She can be reached at 304-639-2371 or tmcminn@times-news.com.
