RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Renton, Wash., Police Chief Kevin Milosevich sees nothing funny about a series of animated Internet videos that mock city police and other city employees. In fact, the police department has begun a cyberstalking investigation.
A search warrant affidavit asks that Google turn over the real name of “Mrfuddlesticks,” the user name of the creator of nine videos that were posted on YouTube.
The affidavit says the videos focus on the new south King County jail, internal investigations, department morale and alleged sex acts involving police employees. The videos apparently were uploaded in mid-April, but removed later that month.
Seattle University law professor and legal ethics experts John Strait tells The Seattle Times he thinks Renton could face First Amendment issues if it pursues the case. He says the cyberstalking statute doesn’t apply.
ACLU of Washington spokesman Doug Honig agrees in comments to KIRO-TV, which initially aired the story of the mocking cartoonist on Wednesday. Renton police responded Thursday.
