The “naked photographer” may have run out of luck, long before he ran out of film.
Stephen P. Linnen, 33, of Columbus, was taken into custody shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday. He is being charged with public indecency, assault and gross sexual imposition.
Linnen is believed to be the infamous photographer who would expose himself to women, take their picture and then run.
Linnen, who works on the legal counsel for taxation and education for the Ohio House of Representatives, has been put on a leave of absence from his responsibilities with the state.
Following two incidents earlier in the evening near the Kroger store on Olentangy River and Ackerman roads, Linnen was apprehended in the alley behind the store. The first incident occurred around 8 p.m., when he approached a woman, took her picture and ran away.
“He hit again around 10:30 p.m.,” said Sherry Mercurio, spokeswoman for the Columbus Division of Police. “That victim attempted to grab his hat or glasses, and he pushed her and ran. Officers were able to indict him behind a Dumpster.”
“He has actually been arrested twice,” Mercurio said. “He was arrested Wednesday night and taken down to the jail facility down at Jackson Pike. When he was released yesterday morning, we picked him up and brought him in on a warrant that Gahanna had filed.”
The majority of the acts have taken place in northwest Columbus.
Linnen was able to evade police because of the inconsistency of his actions.
“He did not hit on just one block or small area,” Mercurio said. “Northwest Columbus encompasses a rather large area, so without having a specific pattern, other than warmer weather, it is very difficult to cover the area. We have had 28 incidents in Columbus since April 17, 2002, that includes the two Wednesday night.”
The investigation is on-going, and will take time because of the large number of reports filed against Linnen.
“With 28 victims, it is going to take some time to get through everything,” Mercurio said.
