The Town of Gilbert is investigating the source of a false 2024 rumor about an Arizona Republic reporter leaked in an attempt to discredit the paper's coverage of the Gilbert Goons.
Vice Mayor Chuck Bongiovanni confirmed the existence of the investigation in a phone call Thursday after The Republic obtained emails and texts indicating an investigation was underway.
"It was an absolute nothingburger," Bongiovanni said.
The investigation was prompted by a formal complaint regarding the potential misuse of police department resources to look up Republic reporter Robert Anglen, an unidentified town spokesperson said in a statement.
"The Town takes these allegations seriously and is investigating what occurred to determine whether any wrongdoing took
place, and if so, by whom, to what extent, and whether any laws or regulations were violated," the spokesperson said.
Gilbert hired the law firm Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation to conduct the investigation.
"If findings identify potential criminal conduct, the town would refer the matter to the appropriate agency," the spokesperson said.
The investigation stemmed from an October 2024 text message shared with The Republic showing Bongiovanni alleged Anglen had a grudge against Gilbert Police because of a "little personal issue," according to the text.
The text exchange came two weeks after Anglen reached out to Bongiovanni and Gilbert police Chief Michael Soelberg about the department's handling of "Gilbert Goons" beatings.
Bongiovanni did not say at the time what the "little personal issue" was and couldn't recall what he was referring to when reached for comment Thursday.
"It was just that (Anglen) didn't like Gilbert P.D. due to a previous history with the department," Bongiovanni said, adding he couldn't recall what that previous history was.
Gilbert Police records show a different Robert Anglen was arrested in 2013 on suspicion of harassing his ex-girlfriend. That Robert Anglen has a different birth date, physical description and middle name from The Republic reporter with the same first and last names.
The investigation came after a request from incoming Councilmember Beth Goulden, according to emails obtained by the Republic.
In the email, Goulden asked Town Manager Mario Paniagua to investigate how Bongiovanni came to believe the false rumor.
She also requested information about whether Chief Soelberg had been questioned about the potential misuse of police files, and whether the town had audited its criminal history database to guard against potential misuse.
She also requested any potential investigation be carried out by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, according to the email.
In a text message Thursday, Goulden said Town Manager Paniagua confirmed to her on Sept. 21 that an investigation was taking place.
Because the investigation appears to be ongoing, Goulden said she would not comment further. She instead referred The Republic to her email correspondence with Paniagua.
Councilmember-Elect Bill Spence said in a text message he was told about the investigation on Sept. 25. He said he didn't know anything about the scope, potential witnesses, or any investigative agency, but provided his own email correspondence with Paniagua as a reference.
In that Sept. 25 email, Spence expressed concern the town was using a third-party investigator rather than a state law enforcement agency.
"I do not, under any circumstances, believe that an investigator contracted by the town will be able to conduct a sufficiently thorough and independent investigation in a manner that will withstand public scrutiny," Spence said in the email.
Councilmember-elect Joel Coen declined to comment for this story. Councilmember-elect Bus Obayomi did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
It's not known how much Gilbert is spending on the investigation.
The investigation is still ongoing, so the town won't know the full cost until after its concluded, Gilbert's Chief Communications Officer Kandice Kwan said in a phone call separate from the town's statement.
Bongiovanni denied any wrongdoing instead blaming the investigation on false assertion by Goulden.
"She's made allegations that I must have had police files and I mean, just crazy stuff," Bongiovanni said.
Bongiovanni said he first heard the false information while "in a public place."
"I didn't even turn around to see who it was. I just heard it," he said.
Bongiovanni said he only told one person about the rumor, while insisting he told this person he didn't know if the rumor was verifiably true.
"And then next thing I know, it's in the paper," he said.
Gilbert will wait until the findings are known before taking any further action, according to the town's statement.
Reporter Harrison Mantas, who covers Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley, can be reached at hmantas@azcentral.com. Follow him on X @HarrisonMantas or Instagram @harrisonmantas
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert probes leak of false rumor about Republic reporter | Exclusive
