Jeff Davis County Republican Party Chair-Elect Jake Knobloch was arrested May 27 in Presidio County on charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana, according to booking information released by the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest became public Monday when the sheriff’s office published a booking photograph and arrest information online. The booking record identified the arrestee as “Jason Knoblock” and listed charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana.
However, the booking record contained a discrepancy. The Republican Party official’s surname is spelled “Knobloch,” while the booking information listed “Knoblock.”
Because of the spelling difference, Big Bend Reporter sought to verify whether the booking record referred to Knobloch before reporting on the arrest.
Big Bend Reporter contacted the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office seeking confirmation regarding whether the booking record contained a typographical error. According to recordings, screenshots and contemporaneous notes reviewed by Big Bend Reporter, the publication was unable to obtain clarification through normal channels.
Big Bend Reporter was not seeking investigative records, nonpublic information or details regarding the underlying case, but rather confirmation of the identity of the individual named in the booking record.
According to recordings reviewed by Big Bend Reporter, a dispatcher identified as Operator 594 asked whether the caller was associated with the publication. After being informed that the caller was David Flash of Big Bend Reporter, the dispatcher allegedly stated, “Mr. Flash, we don’t deal with you.”
According to the recording, the statement was repeated a second time.
Big Bend Reporter subsequently reached out to Deputy Estevan Marquez seeking assistance in determining whether the booking record contained a spelling error.
Messages reviewed by Big Bend Reporter show Marquez confirmed the booking record contained a typographical error and that the individual arrested was, in fact, Knobloch.
“Your correct it was a typo!!” Marquez wrote in a Facebook message reviewed by Big Bend Reporter.
Marquez later added that the spelling of the surname would be corrected and apologized for the dispatcher’s conduct.
Big Bend Reporter delayed publication of the arrest story until the identity of the individual could be independently verified. The publication determined that the individual identified in the booking record was the same person as Jeff Davis County Republican Party Chair-Elect Jake Knobloch.
The incident also raised questions about how media inquiries are handled by the sheriff’s office.
Big Bend Reporter was attempting to verify information contained in a publicly released booking record and was not requesting confidential information, investigative files or records exempt from public disclosure.
Big Bend Reporter has previously reported critically on the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Danny Dominguez. Prior reporting included stories regarding conditions at county facilities and other matters of public concern.
The publication maintains that disagreement with prior coverage does not justify refusing to answer routine questions regarding publicly released government records.
At the same time, Big Bend Reporter praised Marquez for assisting with the verification effort.
“When government employees help ensure the public receives accurate information, they deserve recognition,” the publication said. “Deputy Marquez took the time to verify the facts, correct an error and help ensure the public record was accurate.”
As of publication, Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez had not responded to a request for comment regarding the interaction between Big Bend Reporter and the sheriff’s office.
The charges against Knobloch remain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
