
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 2, 1991                   TAG: 9104020586
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

IMPERSONATOR'S SUIT IS REJECTED BY JUDGE

A federal judge threw out a suit by a man who claimed his rights were violated when he was arrested for allegedly impersonating a reporter at Gov. Douglas Wilder's inauguration.

Donald Corker, a female impersonator known in the Richmond area as "Dirt Woman," was arrested by Capitol Police for assuming a false identity.

Corker's suit said he had as much right to attend the inauguration as any member of the press with a legitimate press pass. He said police violated his rights by not permitting him to attend. Corker also said he was humiliated by the police, who poked fun at him.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer rejected Corker's arguments in an opinion released Monday.

"Corker's allegations describe at least unprofessional behavior by veteran members of a police force who should be expected to treat all persons with dignity and respect," the judge said.

But Spencer added that "this record does not support a finding that the defendants' conduct was unconstitutional."

"The record instead reveals that the defendant police officers found numerous reasons to question whether [Corker] was in fact a member of the press and in lawful possession of the press pass," Spencer concluded.

After Corker was convicted of the misdemeanor charge and fined $50 in Richmond General District, he appealed to Circuit Court and the Richmond commonwealth's attorney's office decided against prosecuting.

by CNB