‘Census #4’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

It’s not really the point of the story so I can’t blame the WaPo for putting it at the end of the article, but I do take issue with their phrasing. “Police declined to release their booking photos.”

“Declined.” Like when you ask your neighbor if you can borrow his lawn mower. Except that this isn’t their lawn mower, it’s everyone’s – or at least every Virginian’s. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act is very clear that information up to and including mug shots are to be released upon request, minus this exception:

Adult arrestee photographs when necessary to avoid jeopardizing an investigation in felony cases until such time as the release of the photograph will no longer jeopardize the investigation;

Since the names of the arrested women were released there doesn’t seem to be a danger to the investigation – just more of Fairfax’s long tradition of ignoring FOIA law.

It is a bit of a break from tradition for them to hold back the name of the “victim” in this case, a man who was blackmailed only after he tried to trade sex for money. I.e., solicitation of prostitution, something Fairfax is normally delighted to tie to a name to even before conviction.

Why are you protecting this person, FCPD? Why wasn’t he charged? You’re comfortable charging both parties when a john is assaulted, what gets this sleazy landlord a pass?

Don Whiteside

Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.

Hmm, guess I just did.

My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.