Dear Wildwood City,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.

I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.

I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:
Dear Records Custodian,

Under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.), I request body-worn camera (BWC) recordings only related to the response and arrest of Rakesh Patel, 47, on Monday, September 2, 2024, at approximately 12:03 p.m., at the 3900 block of Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ, in connection with charges of Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Ghost Gun, Burglary, Terroristic Threats, Resisting Arrest, Eluding, two counts of third-degree Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and related charges.

Please provide a small number (max 5) of clear, non-duplicative officer BWC angles (no more than five total) that depict:

1. Arrival & first contact at the 3900 block of Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ;
2. Officers observing Rakesh Patel attempting to flee the scene in a nearby vehicle;
3. Physical altercation between officers and Rakesh Patel during removal from the vehicle, including Patel's alleged attempt to disarm officers;
4. Arrest, escort, and departure from the scene.

This request is limited to the single on-scene response and arrest of Rakesh Patel at the 3900 block of Ocean Avenue on September 2, 2024. I do not seek any BWC from subsequent vehicle searches, interviews, detention proceedings, or any other locations.

Date/Time: Monday, September 2, 2024, at approximately 12:03 p.m. Please use CAD/dispatch records to identify the call(s) associated with the disturbance response at the 3900 block of Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ at this date and time.

Delivery & Format: Electronic delivery (download link/portal) of original/native files when available (with embedded timecodes/metadata).

Redactions: Apply only those required by law and release all reasonably segregable portions. If any segments require no redaction, please release them promptly.

Fees / Special Service Charge: This is a non-commercial, public-interest journalism request tailored to a few specific, non-duplicative angles and electronic delivery. Given the narrow scope and routine format, this request does not require an "extraordinary expenditure of time and effort" under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c); no special service charge should apply. Please confirm that electronic production will be provided at no charge. If you nonetheless contend a special service charge applies, do not proceed without first notifying me.

Please confirm receipt and advise if any additional locating detail would help identify the relevant footage.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,

Bill Johnson