An overflow of good converts to bad
October 13, 2010 8:27 PM Subscribe
The Chicago Tribune, which has been having a few problems of its own (previously), has a grimly fascinating continuing feature called Mugs in the News in which people’s mug shots are linked to stories describing their alleged crimes. Photos are numbered and accessed from main page (no direct links, alas). Man drunk and texting, four children in car (7). Chicago politician (5). Aggravated child pornography (9). Child molesters (17,18,22). Happy teacher (21). Ninja shoplifter (23). Bad Buddhist (113). Aggravated battery of a police officer, attempted aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting a police officer, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, failing to reduce speed, improper traffic lane usage, disregarding a traffic control light and disregarding a stop sign (12). Other MetaFilter Mugshots (previously 1 2).
The guy caught "Pimping and driving with a suspended license" (#78) cracks me up.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 8:43 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by The Hamms Bear at 8:43 PM on October 13, 2010
The story of the ninja shoplifter is kind of interesting. If only he'd just made a break for it instead of going back to his hiding place.
(& yeah, I've never really understood what 'aggravated' means when describing a criminal act, and in this situation especially)
posted by Flashman at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
(& yeah, I've never really understood what 'aggravated' means when describing a criminal act, and in this situation especially)
posted by Flashman at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
That guy (#78) makes pimping look easy!
Seriously what is "aggravated" child porn? There are levels of it, some worse than others?! I don't need to think of that, thanks.
posted by hincandenza at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
Seriously what is "aggravated" child porn? There are levels of it, some worse than others?! I don't need to think of that, thanks.
posted by hincandenza at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
Poor Louis Lomber appears twice: #85 and #87. Somebody's smoking pot, right Louis?
posted by twoleftfeet at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by twoleftfeet at 8:48 PM on October 13, 2010
What exactly entails aggravated child pornography?
...
Seriously what is "aggravated" child porn?
Here's the definition from the statute. The description is probably NSFW, actually.
posted by jedicus at 9:00 PM on October 13, 2010
...
Seriously what is "aggravated" child porn?
Here's the definition from the statute. The description is probably NSFW, actually.
posted by jedicus at 9:00 PM on October 13, 2010
According to the Illinois criminal code, aggravated child pornography is when one makes porn with someone under age 13 (see 720 ILCS 5/11-20.3), whereas "normal" child pornography is merely made with someone under age 18, or someone who is "severely or profoundly" mentally retarded (see 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1).
posted by Sticherbeast at 9:04 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by Sticherbeast at 9:04 PM on October 13, 2010
Sweet, we haven't had a pillory in my town since the 1700s. I've been feeling like throwing a few rotten cabbages at a alleged drug dealer with facial bruises from "resisting arrest". They should totally turn this into a flash game!
Ugh. If I needed any more proof that the Chicago Tribune had been turned into a useless birdcage liner of a newspaper by the shock jock fratboys at the helm, this would've done it.
posted by xthlc at 9:07 PM on October 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
Ugh. If I needed any more proof that the Chicago Tribune had been turned into a useless birdcage liner of a newspaper by the shock jock fratboys at the helm, this would've done it.
posted by xthlc at 9:07 PM on October 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
Was I the only one hoping that "Other Metafilter Mugshots" would be of our illustrious MeFi team with embarrassing mussed hair and stoned expressions on their faces?
posted by hippybear at 9:11 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by hippybear at 9:11 PM on October 13, 2010
If you like this sort of thing, check out Mugshots.com, which features Today's Top Mugshot and mugshots of hot chicks. Be sure to "send this Mugshot to a friend"!
posted by twoleftfeet at 9:15 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by twoleftfeet at 9:15 PM on October 13, 2010
"A Bolingbrook man was arrested in his home this morning after police found more than 200,000 child pornography videos in his basement."
Uh, wow.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:16 PM on October 13, 2010
Uh, wow.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:16 PM on October 13, 2010
More mugshots, put to a different use.
posted by Eideteker at 9:17 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Eideteker at 9:17 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
One of the guys arrested for "soliciting a sexual act" looks so heartbroken that I'm really sad for him.
posted by jokeefe at 9:20 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jokeefe at 9:20 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
This feature really bothers me. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I'm not a huge fan of the Tribune anyway, but read it occasionally, especially for breaking local news, etc. It's not like I have much of a choice -- the Sun-Times is just as tabloidy.
posted by sugarfish at 9:25 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not a huge fan of the Tribune anyway, but read it occasionally, especially for breaking local news, etc. It's not like I have much of a choice -- the Sun-Times is just as tabloidy.
posted by sugarfish at 9:25 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not aware of the facts in his case, but Matthew Hampton (#21) looks guilty of having too good of a time getting his mugshot taken......
posted by OntologicalPuppy at 9:29 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by OntologicalPuppy at 9:29 PM on October 13, 2010
Interestingly, just about everybody looks guilty as sin in a mug shot.
Also, what, like 95% of these people are high as hell, jeeze.
posted by paisley henosis at 9:33 PM on October 13, 2010
Also, what, like 95% of these people are high as hell, jeeze.
posted by paisley henosis at 9:33 PM on October 13, 2010
#8: "Charges: Solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire"
posted by delmoi at 9:47 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by delmoi at 9:47 PM on October 13, 2010
Chicago politician (5)
So the people of Illinois have decided to just cut to the chase and make this a criminal offense? How refreshingly logical.
posted by clorox at 10:07 PM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
So the people of Illinois have decided to just cut to the chase and make this a criminal offense? How refreshingly logical.
posted by clorox at 10:07 PM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
#135 really knows how to work a grimace.
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:09 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:09 PM on October 13, 2010
#172 takes some time to reflect on what he has done.
posted by Mr Mister at 10:19 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by Mr Mister at 10:19 PM on October 13, 2010
The story behind #138/139 is making me snicker:
"Police said husband and wife Erik A. Zalkus, 31, and Viviana B. Rossi, 28 . . face charges after birds were stolen from Bolingbrook, Batavia and Naperville pet stores. . . . Assistant States Attorney Jeffrey Muntz said Rossi originally denied being involved, but feathers consistent with one of the stolen birds were found in her purse."
I'm glad the birds are safe, but this just seems like the penultimate scene from an episode of "Columbo" or something.
posted by bibliowench at 10:19 PM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Police said husband and wife Erik A. Zalkus, 31, and Viviana B. Rossi, 28 . . face charges after birds were stolen from Bolingbrook, Batavia and Naperville pet stores. . . . Assistant States Attorney Jeffrey Muntz said Rossi originally denied being involved, but feathers consistent with one of the stolen birds were found in her purse."
I'm glad the birds are safe, but this just seems like the penultimate scene from an episode of "Columbo" or something.
posted by bibliowench at 10:19 PM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
In many cases, the mugshot is attached to a story. For instance, here's the backstory on the guy the young rope-rider found mislabeled -- the "wrong" name was the name of another defendant in the case.
posted by me3dia at 10:26 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by me3dia at 10:26 PM on October 13, 2010
> In many cases, the mugshot is attached to a story. For instance, here's the backstory --- broken link
posted by christopherious at 11:05 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by christopherious at 11:05 PM on October 13, 2010
Cheap holiday...in other people's misery.
posted by telstar at 11:11 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by telstar at 11:11 PM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think number 6 is confused.
Charges: Unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated assault of a peace officer, criminal damage to state property, possession of cannabis and resisting a peace officer.
How can you possess cannabis and then assault/resist a peace officer? Aren't they kinda mutually exclusive?
Damn, I love quality journalism.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 12:22 AM on October 14, 2010
Charges: Unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated assault of a peace officer, criminal damage to state property, possession of cannabis and resisting a peace officer.
How can you possess cannabis and then assault/resist a peace officer? Aren't they kinda mutually exclusive?
Damn, I love quality journalism.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 12:22 AM on October 14, 2010
Could someone explain to me why press in the United States names persons charged, but not convicted of crimes by their full name? I've been here for a decade and I'm still amazed by reading about what allegedly happened, and then seeing the full name and picture of someone who may just have happened to be there in the right place at the right time.
posted by halogen at 12:27 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by halogen at 12:27 AM on October 14, 2010
I'm deeply opposed to making a public spectacle of people who haven't been convicted of anything. Freedom of the press doesn't override the right to an impartial trial just because of the order in which amendments appear. Some jurisdictions seem to agree.
posted by anigbrowl at 1:48 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by anigbrowl at 1:48 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yeah, this is a wall of shame. There but for the grace of our local police departments go us.
posted by crunchland at 4:22 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by crunchland at 4:22 AM on October 14, 2010
My newspaper does this and the reason is simple. It absolutely brings more hits to our website than anything else. It's the number one most popular feature on our websites every single day.
posted by girlmightlive at 4:40 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by girlmightlive at 4:40 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Could someone explain to me why press in the United States names persons charged, but not convicted of crimes by their full name?
Because they can, and think that will sell better.
Me, I dunno. The ones on TSG are anonymized, apart from celebrity ones, so all you're left with is mostly a gallery of unfortunate tattoos or t-shirt messages, astonishing hair, and people tweakin'. And you have to think TSG is doin' okay.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:02 AM on October 14, 2010
Because they can, and think that will sell better.
Me, I dunno. The ones on TSG are anonymized, apart from celebrity ones, so all you're left with is mostly a gallery of unfortunate tattoos or t-shirt messages, astonishing hair, and people tweakin'. And you have to think TSG is doin' okay.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:02 AM on October 14, 2010
I agree with some of the folks above, I wish they would hold off on this until people were, you know, convicted.
posted by ghharr at 6:15 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by ghharr at 6:15 AM on October 14, 2010
Since I have totally given up on local news, around once a day I run thru 'Chicago Breaking' to see the weather forecast and what's everybody looking at and I see this on the sidebar and occasionally get drawn in. And then get disgusted with myself.
These are people that have been merely charged with crimes to eyeball for the yucks or to get your righteous outrage on. I know people that have gotten mug shots that thankfully didn't wind up here. It is just another of the many ways that local news has become a cesspool. The Tribune company, racing Fox to the bottom.
God I am self-righteous.
But really, there is something about a mugshot that is so soul-baring and sad.
posted by readery at 7:32 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
These are people that have been merely charged with crimes to eyeball for the yucks or to get your righteous outrage on. I know people that have gotten mug shots that thankfully didn't wind up here. It is just another of the many ways that local news has become a cesspool. The Tribune company, racing Fox to the bottom.
God I am self-righteous.
But really, there is something about a mugshot that is so soul-baring and sad.
posted by readery at 7:32 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't know how I feel about the publicity element. On the one hand, innocent until proven guilty. On the other hand, secret accusations are a hallmark of despotism. At least these people aren't being disappeared for reasons known only to the State.
posted by SMPA at 7:34 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by SMPA at 7:34 AM on October 14, 2010
There are a lot of really depressing stories there...
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 7:47 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 7:47 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
There are a lot of really depressing stories there...
Now I wish I hadn't read those, thermonuclear.jive.turkey
(I love Chicago - but tourists are better off reading Studs Terkel if they want to wallow in its "gritty" side.)
posted by Jody Tresidder at 8:25 AM on October 14, 2010
> In many cases, the mugshot is attached to a story. For instance, here's the backstory --- broken link
Whoops, here you go.
posted by me3dia at 8:37 AM on October 14, 2010
Whoops, here you go.
posted by me3dia at 8:37 AM on October 14, 2010
I fall generally in line with the "do we really need to know this?" crowd, since the people in the shots are only charged with a crime--although we know that the CPD would never arrest someone without just cause.
Still #5, Stroger's aide, I had to chuckle a little. Chicago patronage is really going downhill if you can't pad a little $300K for no work at all. Parky Cullerton is no doubt gyring & gimbling in the wabe.
posted by beelzbubba at 9:10 AM on October 14, 2010
Still #5, Stroger's aide, I had to chuckle a little. Chicago patronage is really going downhill if you can't pad a little $300K for no work at all. Parky Cullerton is no doubt gyring & gimbling in the wabe.
posted by beelzbubba at 9:10 AM on October 14, 2010
Surprised this isn't the Sun Times.
And for the 1967 prostitute, I agree. Then again, they didn't have meth then.
posted by stormpooper at 1:28 PM on October 14, 2010
And for the 1967 prostitute, I agree. Then again, they didn't have meth then.
posted by stormpooper at 1:28 PM on October 14, 2010
Yea like this kid is ever going to be rehabilitated. Unless someone puts him in there for life, this kid will be in the news again and will up the ante to murder.
18 and attempting to kidnap a 12 year old?
posted by stormpooper at 1:31 PM on October 14, 2010
18 and attempting to kidnap a 12 year old?
posted by stormpooper at 1:31 PM on October 14, 2010
Working in appeals, I find it pretty obnoxious and distasteful that The Tribune does this.
posted by agregoli at 4:42 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by agregoli at 4:42 PM on October 14, 2010
Charges: Driving Under the Influence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia
But number 27 is feelin' fine!
posted by heatvision at 6:22 AM on October 15, 2010
But number 27 is feelin' fine!
posted by heatvision at 6:22 AM on October 15, 2010
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