Obscenity On The Loose In Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach police carted away two large promotional photographs from a local Abercrombie & Fitch store and cited the manager on charges of "displaying obscene materials in a business that is open to juveniles." Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman, said the seizure and the issuance of the summons came only after store management had not heeded warnings to remove the images.


Bernstein confirmed that one depicts three shirtless young men from the back, walking through a field. The man in the lead appears to be about to pull up his jeans, which have slipped down enough to reveal his upper buttocks. The other image is of a woman who is topless and whose "breast is displayed with her hand covering just the nipple portion," Bernstein said. "You could still pretty much see the rest of the breast." According to reports, the seizure was "prompted by several customer complaints," Bernstein said.

It should be pointed out that the official state seal of Virginia qualifies as obscene, using the same criteria. In it, a woman is depicted with an uncovered left breast, with her nipple fully exposed.