Outside the interview room, the investigation team continued reviewing the surviving transition package. One investigator brought Blake a file when Evelyn's interview ended. We found another complaint connected to Dugan's supervisory review. Blake opened it.
Then another investigator handed her a second file. The pattern was similar. disputed evidence handling, changed wording and reports. Complaints closed after supervisory intervention. None of the older files proved misconduct by themselves.
Together, they raised a new question. Dugan's involvement might not have started that night. Blake carried the files into the hallway where Maya and Reeves were waiting. This may go back further than Mercer.
Maya looked at the folders. How far? We don't know yet. Maya did not ask to see them. then find out.
Across the building, Mercer sat alone in an interview room. Dugan was in another. For the first time since the roadside stop, they were no longer protecting the same version of events.
By 4 in the morning, the central question had changed again. It was no longer whether Dugan had protected Mercer that night. It was how many times he might have done the same thing before. Dugan requested another interview shortly after 4 in the morning, but this time he asked that Maya be present.
Agent Blake considered the request before agreeing. You understand? Sheriff Williams is not conducting this investigation. She told him, "I understand.
I still want her to hear what I have to say." Maya entered the conference room with Michael Reeves and took a seat near the end of the table. Blake sat across from Dugan while an investigator prepared the recording. Dugan looked tired now.
His white shirt was wrinkled at the sleeves, and the coffee he had carried most of the night was gone. I've worked in this department for more than 30 years, he began. I've watched people come in here with no idea what it takes to keep an office like this functioning. Maya said nothing.
Dugan continued, "Complaints come in every week. Some are legitimate. Some are misunderstandings. Some are from people who are angry because a deputy gave them a ticket or arrested someone in their family.
If command staff treated every complaint like a criminal investigation. Nobody would do police work, Blake asked. Is that why records were altered tonight? I'm explaining how supervision works.
No, Maya said. You're explaining how you justified it. Dugan looked at her. You haven't been sheriff long enough to understand the difference.
I was a citizen when your deputy broke the first window. I understood enough then. Dugan leaned forward. You could have prevented all of this.
Reeves looked toward him, but Maya answered before he could intervene. How? You could have identified yourself. You could have shown Mercer the appointment documents.
You could have called the county attorney before this became a disaster. You think my title would have changed his behavior? Of course it would have. The room went quiet.
Dugan realized what he had admitted, but he did not take it back. Maya kept her voice even. That is the problem. He thought he was dealing with an ordinary traffic stop.
He was, "You know what I mean?" "Yes, Captain. I do," Dugan sat back.
Maya continued, "I had valid registration, valid insurance. I refused a search. Your deputy damaged my car before finding the sealed case." None of those facts change because a county commission appointed me.