The Arizona Attorney General’s Office won’t file any criminal charges against the Gilbert Police Department following an investigation into allegations that the agency destroyed public records.
The investigation stemmed from a report made by a mother that town officials withheld and deleted body camera footage related to harassment allegations involving her daughter.
Gilbert police said it held onto the recordings well past the required retention period. In February, the agency requested an independent review into the allegations.
The Attorney General’s Office said the outcome of its investigation supports the town’s initial assessment — that the footage was deleted due to an administrative error.
Full statement from Gilbert Police Department
The Gilbert Police Department was notified this week that the Arizona Attorney General's Office has determined that claims made by Charisia Arnold, alleging improper withholding and unlawful destruction of public records, are unsubstantiated and their investigation has been closed.
Given the serious nature of the allegations and to ensure a thorough, impartial investigation, the Gilbert Police Department requested an independent review by the Arizona Attorney General's Office in February 2026. The investigation supported the Town’s initial assessment that the file deletions resulted from an administrative error.
The deleted files, body-worn camera footage of the calls for service, had been kept for three years, per Gilbert Police Department policy and procedures, which is well beyond the State’s required retention period of 185 days. It is also important to note that the deleted records were related to calls for service in which no crime occurred.
All body-worn camera and other law enforcement recordings associated with criminal cases or having evidentiary value were—and continue to be—retained in full compliance with GPD policy and Arizona law and were produced to Charisia Arnold upon request.
The Gilbert Police Department processes thousands of public records requests annually. We remain committed to fulfilling those requests accurately, transparently, and in full compliance with Arizona law.
"The department's decision to seek an impartial investigation underscores our commitment to transparency and accountability. We will continue to evaluate and strengthen our processes to meet the highest expectations of our community," said Interim Chief of Police James Bisceglie.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct that the allegations were related to harassment.
