Michael Phillips

Stonewalled: How Law Enforcement and School Officials Are Trying to Bury What Happened on May 1 in San Marcos

I filed the records requests. I followed the law. And now I’m being stonewalled by the very agencies entrusted with the protection of children and the public’s trust.

What happened on May 1, 2025, at two San Marcos schools—when officials attempted to remove two children without a court order or the mother’s consent—is no longer just a story about parental rights. It’s a story about systemic secrecy, institutional collusion, and the lengths public agencies will go to in order to avoid accountability.

The Runaround Begins

Since publishing my initial article, I’ve submitted California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests to three key entities:

  • The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
  • The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
  • The San Marcos Unified School District

Here’s what I’ve gotten in return:
Excuses. Deflections. And contradictions.

The Sheriff’s Department: “Because Minors Were Involved”

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department denied my request for body cam footage, emails, communications, and internal directives related to the May 1 incident—claiming that the presence of minors exempts the records from release.

This is a weak and familiar excuse. Yes, records involving minors may need redaction, but that does not make the entire event immune to scrutiny. Public officials acting under the color of law, at a public school, during school hours, do not get to operate in the dark just because a child was present.

The DA’s Office: “It’s an Active Criminal Investigation”

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told me they couldn’t release anything because the matter is now part of an “active criminal investigation.”

That’s news to everyone else—especially the mother.

  • No one was arrested.
  • No crime was committed.
  • No charges were filed.

So what “criminal investigation” are they referring to?

When an agency cites an investigation without evidence of an actual crime, you have to ask: is the investigation itself the cover-up?

The School District: Delay, Delay, Delay

San Marcos Unified School District hasn’t denied my request outright—but they haven’t fulfilled it either.

They’ve now entered extension mode, invoking vague reasons for delay and claiming they need “additional time” to determine if disclosable records exist. They’ve exceeded the initial statutory timeline and have offered no meaningful update on the status of my request for:

  • Surveillance footage
  • Internal emails from school principals or district counsel
  • Visitor logs
  • Any directives regarding the attempted child removals

This kind of delay tactic isn’t just administrative. It’s strategic. It’s meant to wait out the public’s attention span. But I’m not going anywhere.

I Responded. With Law.

I’ve now filed formal responses to the Sheriff’s Department, the DA’s Office, and the School District, citing relevant case law that makes clear:

  • Public records cannot be withheld wholesale simply because minors are referenced
  • Agencies cannot use the “investigation” exemption without demonstrating that a legitimate criminal inquiry is underway
  • Redaction—not denial—is the appropriate legal remedy when sensitive information is involved
  • And making sure the school district isn’t trying to erase all the footage to then gaslight me.

I’ll wait for their next move—but the burden is now on them to justify their secrecy.

So… Do I Sue?

It’s the question I’m now wrestling with: Do I file a lawsuit to compel the release of these records?

Under the California Public Records Act, I have the legal right to do so. Courts have repeatedly ruled that government entities cannot hide behind vague justifications when it comes to public interest matters. But litigation takes time and money—and these agencies know it.

Maybe that’s part of the game. Exhaust the independent journalist. Make the mother go silent. Let the truth die in the shadows.

But if they think they’ve won, they’re wrong.

What Are They Hiding?

When every agency involved in a coordinated government action refuses to turn over basic information—it’s not transparency, it’s a cover-up.
When schools let strangers into their buildings to target children without telling the parent—it’s not education, it’s collusion.
And when law enforcement blocks access to bodycams, emails, and directives—it’s not protection, it’s evasion.

This isn’t just about what happened to one family. This is about a dangerous precedent. One where public agencies coordinate across counties, outside courtrooms, and behind closed doors to interfere with a family—without oversight, without warrants, and without consequence.

What Comes Next

  • I will continue to pursue these records.
  • I will publish the denials, redactions, and extensions in full transparency.
  • I will explore legal action if necessary.

But most importantly, I will not let this story go away. The public deserves to know what happened on May 1, 2025—and why so many people in power are trying to make sure you don’t.

Call to Action

If you’re a parent, educator, or whistleblower with knowledge of similar incidents, contact me directly at mikethunderphillips@gmail.com.
This story is far from over.

And if you’re reading this and work inside one of these agencies—remember: someone always talks.
You can choose truth. You can choose transparency.

Before someone else chooses it for you.

Leave a comment