Renton WA police go after anonymous web cartoonist parodying them as criminal "cyberstalking"

[astro]

Wow! This is abuse of prosecutorial discretion dialed up to 11.

Renton Police Respond To Parody Videos Investigation

On Wednesday, KIRO 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne broke the story of a cartoonist who is apparently being targeted by the Renton City Prosecutor for producing a series of videos mocking the Renton Police Department.
The city is attempting to jail the cartoonist on charges of cyberstalking. First Amendment advocates have called the move an “extreme abuse of power.”
“Some of the videos are incidents of misconduct, some are unsubstantiated, some are rumors, some are previous internal investigations that were found to be unfounded and some are just flat out untrue and lies,” Renton police Chief Kevin Milosevich said in a Thursday news conference. “I would rather err on the side of investigating all complaints (and) alleged criminal misconduct rather than risk failing to investigate a crime that’s been reported.”

Cartoonist Targeted With Criminal Probe For Mocking Police

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.

[astro]

Here are the videos

[Czarcasm]

Moving thread from IMHO to MPSIMS.

[needscoffee]

I only just glanced at this in the newspaper, but I’d look for another site other than KIRO-7 TV, which tends to be very sensationalistic and doesn’t include as many details as the newspaper article did.

[Inigo_Montoya]

Granted it’s been a while, but when I was growing up in Renton I seem to recall the police had more than their share of actual crime to handle and wouldn’t have had time to worry about their image. Well, not counting that time they bought a bunch of Volvos for their police fleet–they got hell for that. Nice to see they’re still not interested in crime-fighting.

[needscoffee]

@Inigo_Montoya

Granted it’s been a while, but when I was growing up in Renton …

My condolences!

[Sailboat]

If that happened in the United States of America, people wouldn’t stand for it. “Cyberstalking” law notwithstanding, it’s clearly counter to the intent of the First Amendment.

Let’s hope there’s some kind of penalty for trying to do this – some kind of harsh draconian penalty that fills with regret everyone associated with the attempt, and fills with dread any other jurisdiction contemplating it. You know, a deterrent.

[Inigo_Montoya]

I escaped.

[Acsenray]

@Sailboat

If that happened in the United States of America, people wouldn’t stand for it.

Renton, Washington, isn’t in the United States?

[3_20_59_or_bust]

@Acsenray

Renton, Washington, isn’t in the United States?

Definitely. It’s near Seattle.

I assume that was a bit of sarcasm. I hope.

[Sailboat]

@3_20_59_or_bust

Definitely. It’s near Seattle.

I assume that was a bit of sarcasm. I hope.

Yeah, every so often one hears of something so obviously egregious that I’m flabbergasted anyone entertained the thought it might be legal/acceptable, and my mind leaps to the fact that this kind of thing shouldn’t be happening in America. The American tradition of mocking those in power has pretty deep roots.

[user_hostile]

The specifics:

Cyberstalking under RCW 9.61.260 is defined as:
"1. A person is guilty of cyberstalking if he or she, with intent to harass, intimidate, torment, or embarrass any other person, makes an electronic communication to such other person or a third party:
"a. Using any lewd, lascivious, indecent, or obscene words, images, or language or suggesting the commission of any lewd or lascivious act. Cyberstalking is a misdemeanor crime unless some specific requirements are met which will result in a Class C Felony.

Hmm. Have any Washington Dopers been investigated by the local police for posting in the Pit?