On patrol at Easley home

State Highway Patrol Capt. Alan Melvin headed up the special protection detail for Gov. Mike Easley for years, but is now assigned to an information technology job at the patrol.

That's why a reporter was curious to see Melvin show up earlier this year at the Raleigh home of Easley.

The date was Feb. 18 — a Wednesday — and Melvin pulled up around 2 p.m. He carried a package to the door with him. He left without it, reports Andy Curliss.

That date was the same day that the state Highway Patrol informed The News & Observer that it would begin providing flight records relating to Easley, saying some would be available the next day.

The newspaper had long sought the records and one result of their release was a two-part series published Saturday and Sunday. The report showed, in part, that the Highway Patrol has gaps in its records. For example, there are no records from 2005.

Back in February, at the time of Melvin's visit to the Easley home, the paper immediately wanted to talk with Melvin. Through a spokesman, Capt. Everett Clendenin, Melvin declined to speak numerous times. But at the request of the paper, Clendenin asked Melvin about his visit. Melvin denied being at the Easley home that day, according to Clendenin.

The schedule shows Melvin was on duty that day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is not clear when he took lunch.

The N&O then asked the commander of the patrol, Col. Walter Wilson, about the visit.

Wilson inquired and later reported back that Melvin said he had been there — and he was there to drop off some "personal items."

Last week, The N&O asked Wilson about the discrepancy in Melvin's stories. Patrol policy requires a member to be "truthful and complete in all written and oral communications, reports, and testimony."

Wilson said he didn't know why there was a difference. Moments later, Clendenin phoned the newspaper and put Melvin on the line.

Excerpts from the exchange, after the jump.

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N&O: We've been trying to reach you for some time. The question is — How many times did Gov. Easley fly privately with you or while you oversaw the protection detail?

Melvin: On authority of the colonel, I came down here to clarify a question asked by Capt. Clendenin and a question asked by the colonel about me visiting the governor.

N&O: So you don't want to answer that?

Melvin: It's not about an answer. I've come down here to clarify a question.

Clendenin: He's made it clear he wants to clarify this misunderstanding.

N&O: Go ahead then.

Melvin: Capt. Clendenin called me on the phone and asked if I had ever been to the governor's house while on duty. And I said no. Then, at a later date, the colonel asked me ... if I had ever been to the governor's residence while off duty on personal time. And I said yes.

N&O: What we're interested in is why were you over there the day before the first flight records were released. Do you recall that?

Melvin: I was off duty on personal time. So that's it.

N&O: It was in the afternoon. Were you off that day?

Melvin: I was over there on personal time in a personal vehicle.

N&O: Did it relate to these flight records or any information we've been seeking?

Melvin: It was a personal visit.

N&O: Were you there to drop off personal items?

Melvin: It was a personal visit

N&O: OK. You don't want to say anything other than that?

Melvin: It was a personal visit. I do what I want to do on my private time.

N&O: Do you recall the governor taking a flight to Florida in 2005 with McQueen Campbell?

Melvin: I was calling to clarify that one question and I'm good to go.