Topless Woman Lured Perverts in Police Sting

ABC News ^ | 12/28/07 | MARCUS BARAM

[Roberts]

Firefighter Busted for Exposing Himself to Sunbather Appeals 'Entrapment' Conviction

Robin Garrison, an off-duty 42-year-old firefighter, was walking in Berliner Park in Columbus, Ohio, in May when he saw a woman sunbathing topless under a tree.

He approached her and they started talking and getting comfortable, the woman smiling and resting her foot on his shoulder at one point.

Eventually, she asked to see Garrison's penis; he unzipped his pants and complied.

Seconds later, undercover police officers pulled up in a van and arrested Garrison; he was later charged with public indecency, a misdemeanor, based on video footage taken by cops who were targeting men having sex or masturbating in the park. While topless sunbathing is legal in the city's parks, exposing more than that is against the law.

The case is just one of the more extreme examples of police stings aimed at luring people into committing crimes, a tactic that has resulted in hundreds of arrests, many convictions and plenty of controversy.

Law enforcement officials say that such sting operations are an extremely effective means of lowering crime rates and stopping the criminally minded before they commit worse offenses. From early 2006 to the spring of 2007, there were 160 citations for public indecency in the city, according to an investigation by 10TV News. Among those who were caught in the stings: an Ohio State University doctor, government employees and a retired highway trooper.

But such operations veer dangerously close to entrapment, say lawyers, civil libertarians and defendants who've been caught in sting operations.

[MediaMole]

The weird thing about this is that the cops used a WOMAN to lure the park perverts. Women are generally not the target demographic for guys who hang around in parks.

[dighton]

A preposterous headline (beat me to it) and shameful prosecution.

[BBell]

Everyone knows Mr. Garrison is a pervert.

[pilipo]

You have a mean streak. A VERY mean streak. Remind not to p*** you off.

TIA

[onedoug]

I’d bet he’s married with kids.

[ohiobushman]

from:doc1019 “Unless it was a state sanctioned nude park, this is entrapment. The female exposing her breasts should have been the one arrested.” Going topless in Ohio(and other states IS legal) I believe women can go topless most places in Ohio.This is a little known law but a few have been fined only to have charges dropped.

[buccaneer81]

Considering the fact that the "sunbather" was also breaking the law....

Nope. Under Ohio law, female toplessness is legal.

[buccaneer81]

Of all places, Columbus, Ohio is the last place where I would've thought that was legal.

We're run by Dems and fags here.

[whitedog57]

Except that Berliner Park is one of those seedy, moldy parks.

[savedbygrace]

So the guy to court and sez, “I knew she was a police officer, and I knew I had to obey a police officer’s orders.”

Ha!

[buccaneer81]

Now it's a place most fear to be near.

I played in a Phantom Rec softball league at Berliner this past summer. We always arrived as a group before gametime.

[savedbygrace]

I saw this movie.

“Free Willy.”

[Republican Wildcat]

This is entrapment - the woman was also engaged in public indecency, and she made the request. If he had just ran up and exposed himself, that would be one thing - but that’s not what happened...not sure this is really even “public.”

[doc1019]

And I live in Ohio, never would have thought! Will be on the lookout in the future. LOL!

[dljordan]

“I’m all for effective policing to get rid of “public indecency”, but this strikes me as entrapment.”

So, if you’re attracted to naked women you’re a pervert?

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I used to live in Columbus. I’m trying to think where Berleiner Park is.

[boop]

"Eventually, she asked to see Garrison's penis; he unzipped his pants and complied."

This guy is stupid, but no question this is entrapment. It is like an undercover cop taking a hit off a joint, then passing it to you. Then you get busted for it.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****Visit this Columbus OH this summer.****

Nah. Don't do it for the women. Believe me. LOL!!

I remember when I lived there one magazine (I think it was TIME Magazine) named Columbus as a great place for lesbians to live. The Chamber Of Commerce was less than thrilled.

[no dems]

Apparently the sunbather did NOT break the law. Did you read this part of the thread?
While topless sunbathing is legal in the city's parks, exposing more than that is against the law.

[MarkL]

If she initiated physical contact with him, and actually asked to see his penis, that’s solicitation on her part, and it should be considered entrapment.

Mark