Not all photographs paint a glamorous picture of the subject but thankfully so much can be done to “enhance” the image.
Social media is flooded with images of people that have been altered, filtered, and air-brushed. But one type of image that can’t be doctored are mugshots – or so we thought.
There are websites dedicated to mugshots of celebrities that have had a brush with the law and they’re not only entertaining but show us what these famous people really look like without a team of stylists and professional photographers around them – just like the rest of us.
But one criminal decided he needed to do something about his mugshot as he wasn’t happy with the photo police had used.
Donald ‘Chip’ Pugh sent officers in Lima, Ohio, a selfie because he didn’t like the mugshot issued on his arrest warrant.
Pugh was wanted after failing to appear in court on a driving under the influence charge back in 2016.
Police posted a mugshot of Pugh to help find him but after spotting the Facebook post, the 45-year-old sent officers a shot of himself in a car, writing: “Here is a better photo that one is terrible.”
Posting on Facebook about the unusual message, Lima police said: “This photo was sent to us by Mr Pugh himself.
“We thank him for being helpful, but now we would appreciate it if he would come to speak to us at the [Lima Police Department] about his charges.”
The Lima Police Department’s post went viral with more than 3,500 likes and 2,000 shares.
Pugh even called into a local radio station where he told hosts why he had sent the photo, according to LadBible.
“Man, they just did me wrong,” he said.
‘The power of social media’
“They put a picture out that made me look like I was a Thundercat… or James Brown on the run. I can’t do that.”
Just a few days after his selfie plea Pugh was arrested in Escambia County, Florida.
In a statement on the day of his arrest, Lima Police said: “Thanks to the power of social media & tips called into authorities, we have learned that Donald Chip Pugh has been arrested by the Escambia County Sheriffs Office in Florida.
“He is being held for warrants out of Columbus, Georgia, which he was out of the pick up radius for in Ohio but not in Florida. Alas we will wait our turn.
“Thank you to Escambia County & to those who provided information and continue to support law and order.”
I should have thought the last of Donald ‘Chip’ Pugh’s concerns would have been what he looked like in his mugshot but his efforts worked as his more flattering selfie was seen by thousands.
I’m glad that authorities were able to find him so he could answer the charges against him. Please share.