Instapundit Covers Sex Scandal, The MJM Ignores It
By Greg L | 12 September 2007 | Rack & Roll Scandal | 18 Comments
Although the local media has steadfastly ignored the story about the City Attorney of Manassas Park breaking his own protective order on evidence and implicating a former Vice-Mayor and current Planning Commissioner in child pornography during a televised meeting of the Planning Commission, instapundit (the most active internet site in the world) has nevertheless picked up on the story. Meanwhile, the Manassas Journal-Messenger has another story about a dog. A dog gets bitten by a snake, and that gets prime-time coverage. An elected official is preying on underage girls, and the editors at the Journal-Messenger ignore it.
No wonder I get so many visitors.
Now let me tell readers what I think the rest of the story is here. When Rack n’ Roll was in it’s heyday and Kevin Brendel was Vice-Mayor, he was moonlighting as a DJ at the pool hall. He was given pretty clear guidance about what kind of behavior would be allowed, and was given responsibilities as part of the security team since the vantage point of the DJ booth was very good for keeping an eye on things. But whenever Dave Ruttenberg, the owner wasn’t around not only did Brendel start breaking the rules, he documented it.
Now why would that be? About the same time, the City of Manassas Park starts trying to bring down the hammer on Rack n’ Roll because it’s getting in the way of some important land deals which stand to make some important people filthy rich. This is the only tenant in the shopping center that Colonial Downs wants to build an off-track betting facility in that can’t be summarily kicked out. The cops do some bizarre stuff trying to manufacture evidence that the business is a drug haven, spread false rumors, and go so far as to have drug dealers transported to the business from as far away as Dumfries so they can buy drugs from police undercover operatives at Rack n’ Roll. But it’s not enough to kill this business.
This is when Kevin Brendel starts asking underage girls to take their clothes off for impromptu photo shoots in the DJ booth. These photos end up in the custody of the City Attorney, who instead of reporting a crime, holds on to them as evidence to somehow be used against Dave Ruttenberg.
The question is whether Kevin Brendel voluntarily gave these over to the city out of the goodness of his heart and wanted to confess to committing crimes, or whether he was coerced to do so. I believe he was blackmailed. The city had likely heard the rumors about his penchant for taking girls over to his house and shooting naked pictures in his basement while his wife and kids were sleeping upstairs, or at hotel rooms in the area, and figured they could use this to entice him to stage lewd and unlawful acts at Rack n’ Roll without Ruttenberg’s knowledge. There were quite a few folks in Manassas Park who had heard these rumors, so it’s not unlikely that the city would learn about this also. Holding a felony charge over Brendel’s head, they probably could have got him to do just about anything, and his demeanor at his deposition certainly would substantiate that he was being put in an impossible place.
I can’t imagine this happening without the knowledge of very senior city officials. The City Attorney knew about this, and had told several members of the city council about this evidence. It would seem entirely reasonable that not only did Mayor Frank Jones know about this, he was directing it.
It’s time for the leadership of the City of Manassas Park to start explaining just what in the heck is going on here, and why they shouldn’t all be thrown out with a recall right this moment.
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Throwing out the current Manassas Park leadership doesn’t go far enough. This scandal involves the mayor, the city council, the planning commission and the police department. Nearly every branch and office of Manassas Park city goverment is corrupted! This clearly shows that Manassas Park cannot govern itself. As a resident of Manassas Park, I would like to see it lose its status as an independent city and become part of Prince William County. Not only would we get a more competent government, we would also gain a government that is willing to tackle the quality of life issues that Manassas Park government refuses to acknowledge. I realize this is a long shot, if even a possibility at all, but you gotta admit, it would be the best solution.
My earlier post was in error, for I forgot to mention the cover up by the city attorney. I do not want the leave the impression that MP city government is less corrupt and lawless than it actually is.
Where are you Manassas Park? Haven’t you had enough? You need to start speaking up.
INSTALANCHE!
Congrats — that’s a high honor.
WTF is going on with the mainstream media and the state and/or federal investigative agencies??? I can’t believe more people aren’t up in arms about this. Can the State Police be brought in to investigate?
It’s pretty obvious the former Vice Mayor committed multiple counts of at least one serious crime.
What I’m trying to figure out is how many laws the City Attorney has broken. In any case, he’s certainly crossed over into “disbarment land.”
The link below gives all you Manassas Park taxpayers information on how to file a bar complaint.
http://www.vsb.org/inquiry.html
He’s paid by the city, so he works for you. Everyone who pays taxes in the City of Manassas Park has standing to file a complaint. Go ahead and download and fill out the form. They’re easy to do and fun too. GOOD LUCK!
The state police have investigated this and have recommended that Paul Ebert conduct a full investigation.
Ebert has declined. Stating that there is not enough evidence. When Detective Guyton informed him there was plenty more for him to see, Ebert told him he was not interested in seeing anymore evidence.
Guyton told me this himself….adding that he had never been stopped like this before…
he is so frustrated that he is removing himself from this case.
He said he wished he could do more to help.
No thanks, JM. PWC taxpayers are barely holding on to property values and riding the economic rollercoaster. I don’t want Manassas Park and all it’s problems. Give them to Fairfax. They can all earn at least $12.75!!
What Ebert meant to say was, “it’s too much work for an over the hill prosecutor like me to go digging for crimes and stuff……besides….I need a good retirement…hear there’s lots of money in OTBs…”……..
I agree with One Voice. No thank you. PWC doesn’t need the problems or the aggrevation.
Gee, thanks, one voice - then I will give you Michele McQuigg and Faisal Gill
One voice et al
Please, I hate to defend Fairfax Co., but they are in VA. I say give them to Montgomery or PG Cos., MARYLAND (THE FREE STATE). It’s just a short drive over the Potomac River.
Maryland is an excellent idea. Why not San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas? Texas is a BORDER STATE after all. Not a very secure border from what I can tell around PWC.
Why not? You’ll get a brand new elementary school, police station, fire station, a new middle school, and a high school that’s only a few years old.
Please, Dave Ruttenberg, tell me you’ve been cooperation with the FBI. Please! Where in the world is Bob McDonnell on this? Can’t the AG step in and force Ebert’s hand? This is absolutely unacceptable in America!
Greg, that Ruttenberg quote deserves it’s own post. That is pitiful.
DR 6:48, Why would Detective Guyton have anything to do with a Manassas Park case? He is a long time Manassas City Detective. Just doesn’t make sense! Maybe you are embellishing what you think you know. Look, I live here and think they ar all crooks, but it just don’t make sense that Detective Guyton would have anything to do with this case.
Perhaps there is more than one Detective Guyton, and the other one works for the state police?
MP Resident 8:34, I believe I was using this name before you. Please select another or call yourself “Another MP Resident” or something. Thanks.
William T. Guyton
Special Agent (retired)
Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Virginia State Police
703 323 2212