Missouri Judge Blocks Public Records Request in Insurance Fraud Case

A judge has issued an order blocking a newspaper’s request for documents about the resignation of the police chief in southeast Missouri.

Perryville Police Chief Keith Tarrillion submitted his resignation last week amid allegations that he falsified a police report in a personal insurance claim two years ago.

Perryville city officials alleged that Tarrillion used another officer’s name to create a police report about vandalism at his home. Tarrillion later received nearly $5,700 from his insurance company. Tarrillion denied the allegations when he resigned.

The Southeast Missourian reports that Circuit Judge Ben Lewis has issued an order that blocks the city from responding to the newspaper’s records request for documents about the case.

Tarrillion’s lawyer says the records constitute a “closed record” under the Sunshine Law.

Topics Fraud Legislation Missouri