Virginia Beach police charge Facebook blogger with violating Oceanfront curfew, highlighting First A

[Timber Rattler]

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/04/20/virginia-beach-curfew-violation-charge/

Mickey Barker, a blogger with a small following on Facebook, went to the Oceanfront on Saturday night to document the city’s curfew.

The 41-year-old Hampton man walked slowly down Atlantic Avenue, recording with his iPhone and looking for people to interview.

Though he knew the Virginia Beach City Council exempted “members of the press” from the curfew, Barker wanted to see if police would grant free rein to a self-described “independent journalist.”

“It wasn’t my intention to get arrested, but I wasn’t sure how they would react,” he said.

Police did not give him any grace.

“Sir, do you have credentials?” an officer asked him on Atlantic Avenue, according to Barker’s footage of the interaction.

“The First Amendment, yeah — of the Constitution,” Barker replied.

“That’s not how that works,” a different officer said. The first officer said Barker must leave the area if he wasn’t staying at a hotel there.

“That is how that works,” Barker said. “What’s the governing agency for a press pass? … I’m an independent journalist gathering content for a story.”

That back and forth continued, with police ultimately saying, “You’re not press” — telling him he was violating the curfew.

Barker asserted that he hadn’t broken any law and would not provide an ID.

“OK, put your hands behind your back,” an officer tells Barker. Court documents say he was arrested at 11:52 p.m.

“I spent about 45 minutes in the paddy wagon, sweating profusely,” Barker said, saying the handcuffs dug into his wrists. “I think they wanted me to feel that a little bit.”

EXCERPT

The looney Leftist is right about this one, and I think the city lawyers are already sweating about his forthcoming civil rights lawsuit.

[Wingnut]

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/04/20/virginia-beach-curfew-violation-charge/

EXCERPT

The looney Leftist is right about this one, and I think the city lawyers are already sweating about his forthcoming civil rights lawsuit.

He is no better than those stupid Police Auditors. Just looking for a confrontation for clicks. 

[mountaineer]

Everyone these days is a "journalist," dontcha know. But I have an iPhone!! I can take videos!!

[Timber Rattler]

He is no better than those stupid Police Auditors. Just looking for a confrontation for clicks.

Perhaps, but I think his point is valid in this particular case.  This is America, curfews (outside of declared wartime) for everyone, including adults, are anathema to that idea, and under the 1st Amendment, everyone IS a journalist, in one way or the other.  Benjamin Franklin would certainly agree with that.

[mountaineer]

... under the 1st Amendment, everyone IS a journalist, in one way or the other.  Benjamin Franklin would certainly agree with that.

Perhaps, but remember Don Lemon used his journalist status to justify his criminal behavior with regard to the church service in Minneapolis. Maybe it should be a shield, not a sword.

[Timber Rattler]

Perhaps, but remember Don Lemon used his journalist status to justify his criminal behavior with regard to the church service in Minneapolis. Maybe it should be a shield, not a sword.

Yes, he did BUT he went WAY beyond that though by invading private property and disrupting the church service.  He would have been fine if he had remained outside quietly covering the service on public property or asking permission from the pastor, but he didn't, and so his claim fails miserably.

With that said, you're 100% right in that the free press should be a shield and not a sword.