25FC:0193 William Hendrikson v. Iowa State Patrol - Investigative Report and Probable Cause Order

The Iowa Public Information Board

COMES NOW, Erika Eckley, Special Counsel for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Investigative Report:

On December 2, 2025, William Hendrikson filed formal complaint 25FC:0193, alleging the Iowa State Patrol [“Department”] violated Iowa Code Chapter 22.

The Iowa Public Information Board accepted this complaint at its meeting on January 15, 2026.

Facts

April 8, 2025, Records Request

On April 8, 2025, Mr. Hendrikson made a public records request to the Iowa State Patrol for the following documents from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024:

• Incident/Arrest Reports – Any State Patrol incident reports or citations involving William J. Hendrikson (Ventura, IA) during the specified period. Specifically to an incident where The home was broken into by law-enforcement by bashing in the front door.
• Traffic Stop Records – Records of any traffic stops conducted by troopers that involved William J. Hendrikson or his vehicle, including dash camera footage, trooper body camera footage, and dispatch logs/communications for those stops.
• Inter-Agency Communications – Any communications between the Iowa State Patrol and local agencies (e.g., Clear Lake Police, Cerro Gordo or Hancock County Sheriff’s Offices) regarding William Hendrikson. This includes email correspondence, radio logs, or other notes referencing his name or vehicle/license plate.
• License Plate/Tracking Inquiries – Any instances of license plate checks, call-ins or location tracking requests run through State systems (e.g., NLETS, State Patrol communications) specifically for William Hendrikson’s vehicle or license plate.
• October 2021 OWI Stop Involvement – All records related to an OWI arrest of William Hendrikson in October 2021 in Hancock County. This should include any State Patrol involvement or assistance in that incident. For example, if a State Patrol trooper responded or was consulted, I request any reports, dispatch communications, or notes (especially any record of a tip from Holly Mae Hendrikson that precipitated the stop).
• Related Individuals – Any State Patrol records or references (within the context of William Hendrikson’s incidents) that involve Holly Mae Hendrikson, Wesley Enabnit, Justin Faught, Travis Stangle, or Sarah Stangle.
• Officer/Staff Communications – Copies of any internal communications or complaint records within the State Patrol that involve the officers named Pavelka, Conklin, Brandon Heinz, Pedelty, Hall, Deb Ryg, Mike Colby, or Jeremy Bossard, to the extent that those communications relate to William Hendrikson or the other individuals listed. (For instance, if any of those local officers reached out to State Patrol or were discussed in relation to incidents involving Mr. Hendrikson.)

Records located were provided. Following disclosure there were email communications between Mr. Hendrikson and the Department. The last communication was on May 6, 2025, in which Mr. Hendrikson took offense to the Department’s suggestion it would conduct a second search for the requested records with the exact date and address.[1] Mr. Hendrikson took no other action regarding his records request until filing this complaint on December 2, 2025.[2] The complaint was filed 210 days after Mr. Hendrikson would have been aware a violation would have occurred based on his email on May 6, 2025.

December 8, 2025, Records Request

On December 8, 2025, shortly after filing this complaint, Mr. Hendrikson made another records request to the Department for all records relating to the incident at his residence on October 28–29, 2023, in Ventura, Iowa. He requested the following:

1. All body-worn camera and in-car camera recordings from any Iowa State Patrol troopers present;
2. All dispatch logs, radio traffic, CAD entries, and 10-codes associated with that response;
3. All reports, field notes, case narratives, or supplemental reports generated by Iowa State Patrol personnel for that incident.
4. All inter-agency communications between Iowa State Patrol, Clear Lake Police Department, and Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office regarding this event;
5. All emails, internal messages, or communications within DPS referring to either the forced entry any attempts to locate records about this incident any Chapter 22 requests filed by me related to it.
6. Any record indicating no report was filed or footage was not preserved and any retention/destruction logs relevant to this incident.

In response, an incident report and case were located that had misspelled his name. Two audio files were provided. Email communications were provided at no cost. The Department’s retention policy was provided. In addition, the Department contacted its vendor to determine whether any documentation existed regarding how the original video from the incident in 2023 was classified at the time it had been saved. All other questions or concerns were addressed.

Applicable Law

“The complaint must be filed within sixty days from the time the alleged violation occurred or the complainant could have become aware of the violation with reasonable diligence. All complaints filed with the board shall be public records.” Iowa Code § 23.7(1).

Analysis

Mr. Hendrikson’s chapter 22 complaint and the allegations in his complaint occurred and any alleged violation should have been discovered with any reasonable diligence in fewer than 210 days after the final communications with the Department on May 6, 2025. IPIB’s jurisdiction to review complaints does not exceed violations outside of those occurring within sixty days from when the issue could be discovered with reasonable diligence. Iowa Code § 23.7(1).

Because IPIB has no subject matter jurisdiction, 25FC:0193 must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. “Subject matter jurisdiction is conferred by constitutional or statutory power. The parties themselves cannot confer subject matter jurisdiction on a court by an act or procedure. Unlike personal jurisdiction, a party cannot waive or vest by consent subject matter jurisdiction.  Lack of subject matter can be raised ‘at any time.’” Klinge v. Bentien, 725 N.W.2d 13, 15–16 (Iowa 2006) (citations omitted).

Further, Special Counsel was included in all communications with Mr. Hendrikson and the Department regarding his subsequent records request on December 8, and all relevant records have been provided.

IPIB Action

The Board may take the following actions upon receipt of a probable cause report:

a. Redirect the matter for further investigation;

b. Dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to believe a violation has occurred;

c. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, but, as an exercise of administrative discretion, dismiss the matter; or

d. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, designate a prosecutor and direct the issuance of a statement of charges to initiate a contested case proceeding.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 497-2.2(4).

Recommendation

IPIB has no jurisdiction over 25FC:0193 because the complaint was filed far outside the 60-day jurisdictional requirement for review. Further, the December 8, 2025, records request has been resolved. It is recommended the Board dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to believe a violation has occurred.

By Special Counsel,

_________________________

Erika Eckley, J.D.

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on February 13, 2026, to:

William Hendrikson, Complainant

Catherine Lucas for Iowa State Patrol, Respondent
 

The Iowa Public Information Board

Under Iowa Admin. Code r. 497-2.2(4) the Board takes the following action:

☐a. Redirect the matter for further investigation;

☒b. Dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to believe a violation has occurred;

☐c. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, but, as an exercise of administrative discretion, dismiss the matter; or

☐d. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, designate a prosecutor and direct the issuance of a statement of charges to initiate a contested case proceeding.

By the Board Vice- Chair

__________________________

E.J. Giovannetti

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on January 9, 2026, to:

William Hendrikson, Complainant

Catherine Lucas for Iowa State Patrol, Respondent