Idaho AG declines criminal case against Caldwell mayor

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]For months, tensions and public back and forth between Caldwell Mayor Eric Phillips and Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram have been escalating. And now that conflict is once again center stage after the Idaho Attorney General's office declined to pursue a criminal investigation request tied to accusations against the mayor. I'm recall neighborhood reporter Leslie Sulli is breaking down the complaint and the Idaho attorney general's response.

[00:00:29]Tensions between Phillips and Ingram date back years to when Phillips served under Ingram at the Caldwell Police Department. After leaving law enforcement, Phillips went on to serve as director of student safety for the Caldwell School District, a role that was later removed due to budget cuts.

[00:00:45]The conflict first gained major public attention in late 2025 after Idaho News 6 obtained a leaked voice memo in which the then mayor elect Eric Phillips discussed plans to remove Chief Ingram from his position.

[00:00:59]>> Got an interview with Channel 6. They asked me about the chief and whether I'm going to fire him. I'm making a public statement that I'm going to look at all the facts and make an informed decision.

[00:01:08]That means that I'm going to look at all the things and fire his ass anyways.

[00:01:12]Now, that fallout is once again taking center stage after attorneys representing Chief Ingram requested the Idaho Attorney General's Office open an independent criminal investigation into Mayor Phillips regarding his handling of police department investigations. The complaint submitted in March alleges Mayor Phillips inserted himself into both criminal and internal police investigations by allegedly directing an employee not to report concerns through police administration, independently obtaining law enforcement records and seeking updates on an active investigation directly from the Kane County Sheriff's Office. Attorneys further alleged that after Phillips was identified as a witness in an internal affairs investigation. He ordered all internal affair investigations halted and directed investigative files be transferred to the Caldwell City Attorney's Office. Actions they argued may have interfered with established investigative procedures. But in a response dated May 13th, the Idaho Attorney General's Office stated it would take no further action, saying the allegations did not meet the legal threshold required for the office to exercise criminal jurisdiction under Idaho law. The attorney's general's office also wrote that even if the allegations were true. The actions described would not constituate violations of state criminal law and noted Idaho law gives mayor supervisory authority over city operations. In a statement, Mayor Eric Phillips said, quote, "I rest on the conclusions from the Attorney General's office that my handling of the situation was lawful."

[00:02:46]Ingram's attorney said they submitted the complaint because they believed it was legally warranted and while defending the chief against what they described as accusations of insubordination by Mayor Phillips, emphasizing that Ingram remains focused on leading the Caldwell Police Department and serving the community.

[00:03:03]Speaking with the Idaho Attorney General's Office, officials emphasize they take complaints submitted under Idaho law seriously and review each matter based on legal authority and jurisdiction granted to the office. I'm RCAW neighborhood reporter Lelie Solis, Idaho News Six.