When Officer Michael Wines approached, Corning sped off but was pulled over a few blocks away. The woman turned out to be an 18-year-old stripper from the Platinum Plus Gentleman’s Club.
The case, however, gets a bit more interesting. Corning was not arrested after he flashed his credentials as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Corning is also a former state legislator.
In the end, the use of the credentials backfired because Wines called the state Attorney General’s office. He spoke to his wife who happens to work there. She then told her supervisor, who told Attorney General Henry McMaster. McMaster appears to reject any innocent explanation (like attending a private funeral) and instead stated that “by the close of business, he was no longer working here.”
However, if the stop did not warrant a ticket, why does it warrant termination? Conversely, if it did warrant a ticket, did the officer act improperly in not making the arrest once told that the man was Deputy Attorney General?
Police often make arrests at locations known to be frequented by prostitutes. This case is likely to see future “johns” demand that same treatment.