Posted on 08/04/2011 11:51:04 AM PDT by Stoat
The Renton City Prosecutor wants to send a cartoonist to jail for mocking the police department in a series of animated Internet videos.
The "South-Park"-style animations parody everything from officers having sex on duty to certain personnel getting promoted without necessary qualifications. While the city wants to criminalize the cartoons, First Amendment rights advocates say the move is an "extreme abuse of power."
Only KIRO Team 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne holds a key document that really lays bare the city’s intent. The document was quietly filed in King County Superior Court last week. It’s a search warrant accusing an anonymous cartoon creator, going by the name of Mr. Fiddlesticks, of cyberstalking (RCW 9.61.260). The Renton Police Department and the local prosecutor got a judge to sign off as a way to uncover the name of whoever is behind the parodies. Halsne talked with three nationally respected legal experts who believe the use of the cyberstalking statute is likely stomping on the constitution.
(edit)
(Excerpt) Read more at kirotv.com ...
*******************************************
Please see the original article page for the full report as well as links to the actual videos.
In the first video, the reporter mentions that there are several other videos that have been made but he is apparently unable to find them and invites readers who know where they are to send them to him.
FReepers who are able to locate the 'missing' cartoons are of course invited to post them here as well :-)
Washington State Ping Request
“Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball...”
Then we said, "The heck with it!" and just decided to arrest anyone who got a little "mouthy". Maybe a good beating will teach them to respect their betters and know their place.
We are an Orwellian police state. Period. I don’t wanna hear one peep from dissenters, that somehow we are not.
That's just crazy talk. Utter insanity.
What the Founding Fathers were trying to protect, with the First Amendment, is PORNOGRAPHY.
And public libraries were invented to provide free and easy access to it.
You know, you keep up with this dangerous talk, and pretty soon people will want to vote without being told who; own their own property and businesses; and pretty soon, people will want a say in their own destiny!!!!1!!
We gotta nip this in the bud.
Cyberstalking for ridiculing a GOVERNMENT department?
The protitutor needs to be removed from office. With prejudice.
sounds like you need a good tasing to ensure compliance.
“We are an Orwellian police state. Period. I don’t wanna hear one peep from dissenters, that somehow we are not.”
I was going to post a serious reply, until I saw who posted that.
The irony was so intended.
The SCOUS has already ruled the satire is protected speech.
They better lawyer up because the PD is going to have their head handed to them.
Wow! This “citizen rights” stuff is double plus un-good!
The prosecutor needs to be arrested and prosecuted for abusing his authority.
How about that! Cops having sex on the jobs? Not only do they harass women constantly using their badge, but they also will block others’ fun any chance they get - notwithstanding the predation on the wives of others and domestic violence bias as a result.
Sometimes the truth hurts because it is so real, and then some we do not even fathom.
I have to wonder if the creator of this cartoon decided to put on play instead at the local Renton theater using the same basic content would the Renton cops come in and tase and beat up all the actors, stage hands, and play writer for putting on such a show? How about shooting their dogs? You can’t let a live dog go to waste!
When will the cartoonist be reeducated?
That judge needs to be thrown out of office as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.