Bryan Stow coverage: The Times decides not to publish a photo of the beating suspect

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The coverage of the near-fatal beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium has generated intense interest since March 31. On Sunday, the breaking news of the arrest of a suspect in that beating was posted, with updates, on the Los Angeles Times website, latimes.com.

A number of readers asked why The Times did not use a photo of the suspect, identified by the Los Angeles Police Department as Giovanni Ramirez, 31, especially on Monday afternoon after some news-media websites briefly ‘published a leaked mug shot of Ramirez from the file kept on him by parole agents.’

The Times did not have a picture initially because it is against LAPD policy to release booking photos. After a leaked photo of the suspect was circulated, LAPD officials requested that it not be published because they feared it would taint possible witness identifications. After careful consideration, The Times decided not to use the photo.

As it reported Tuesday, The Times ‘received the photo but decided not to publish it in light of the ongoing investigation.’ As part of the investigation, police are planning to conduct identification lineups, which could be compromised if witnesses see a photograph of the suspect beforehand.

-- Office of the Readers’ Representative