SHAWNEE, KS (KCTV) -
A lot of people may have seen the law enforcement websites listing mug shots and booking information, but one site is trying to turn a profit off that information and a local man said he's getting death threats for his dot com venture.
It's a brand new website that's generating a firestorm of controversy. In fact it's getting so much attention, the sheriff's office is now taking a look.
Blabbermouthkc.com is not your typical website. It features mug shots along with home addresses of those booked by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
Creator Matthew Creed said it's all about fighting crime.
"The goal is to deter criminal activity. Getting people to think twice about their actions, not make the same mistakes as they've made," Creed said.
But Creed takes things a step further. He has a whole section of the website dedicated to collecting payments in return for taking down mug shots and other information.
Creed even sent flyer to certain arrestees, threatening to blab to their neighbors about their arrest if they didn't pay up to $199.
Creed's critics said this is nothing more than high-tech blackmail.
"The whole thing is about extortion. It's not about a moral value, if it was he wouldn't charge $199 to take care of it or get rid of it," Erik Radzins with KCSR.org said.
Creed defends the site, though, saying he got the idea after he got a DUI in 2010 and didn't think his punishment was tough enough. He said he's surprised by the backlash, which he said includes death threats.
Despite it all, Creed's determined to keep the site up and running.
But now the Johnson County Sheriff's Office is looking into the case to see if Creed is breaking any laws. While they're still checking the fine print, they said it's not the public's responsibility to discourage crime.
"Ultimately, the responsibility to deter crime lies on us, that's what we get paid for, that's our job," Deputy Tom Erickson said. "To deter crime, arrest people, do all of those things that go along with law enforcement. We don't really ever ask the public to get involved in that manner."
While Creed admits he will make some small changes, he's vowing to keep that website up and running.
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