FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johnny Whitaker arrested in North Hollywood Bookstore
Hollywood Profiling by L.A. Police??

Johnny Whitaker, former child star and current co-host for the psychiatry-based radio talk show, "The Dr. Zod and Johnny Show" where Whitaker and his Psychiatrist/Friend Dr. Ron Zodkevitch (formerly Dr. Zod from the original KLOS love line) discuss with their listeners problems of love, life and relationships was arrested on October 17, 2000 for disorderly conduct.

Whitaker, of course is best-known as Jody from the 60's series Family Affair as well as having given two-time academy award winner Jodie Foster her first on-screen kiss in "The Musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer". He has also been noted as a children's rights activist having helped to pass California SB 1162 in November of 1999. Whitaker was the last credited manager of the late Dana Plato who died of a drug overdose in May of 1999. On the February 10th edition of Entertainment Tonight, Weekend Edition, Whitaker openly admitted having been addicted to crack cocaine for the first time on national television. Positive responses to Mr. Whitaker's admission have been overwhelming.

However, in the March 6, 2001 edition of the National Enquirer in a somewhat forced interview with Mike Glynn, Sr. Reporter, the final story was full of misquotes and exaggerations. Mr. Whitaker, who was silent on many aspects of his arrest and final plea to no contest to misdemeanor trespassing, has decided to come public with another serious problem many in the Hollywood community are faced with.

On the evening of October 17, 2000 the North Hollywood division of the L.A. Police Department was in the midst of a vice-squad ‘sting' operation. Whitaker entered the bookstore and after only a few minutes was recognized and (having been caught [with his pants up]) arrested on charges of Lewd Conduct. Whitaker states that there were no body parts showing and that the police arrested Whitaker because as he stated, "I was an easy target, easily recognizable and not going to want to fight such a charge." Whitaker went willingly and was processed in two police stations, North Hollywood Division and Van Nuys Central Division where the arresting officers paraded Whitaker in front of the night watch commanders and other officers where comments on his celebrity were openly noted.

Whitaker feels that much like the racial profiling that has been going on by police throughout the country, Hollywood is faced with a much more obvious problem due to the fact that when a person with some celebrity is in a position where he/she may be arrested, anonymity or just the courtesy or non-courtesy afforded non-celebrities is never the norm. "I was only arrested one other time, during my drugging days in West Hollywood. While I was in custody there, numerous officers were paraded by the window where I was awaiting processing. These officers pointed their fingers at me and laughed saying, ‘We collared Jody!!' Quite a bit less respect than other anonymous members of the community could expect to receive." says Whitaker. "During the entire ordeal of the evening of October 17, I tried to maintain as much dignity as possible and to try and ‘let the system' unfold. Unfortunately, being somewhat of a celebrity wasn't to my benefit but made it impossible when both officers and suspects were pointing their fingers at me."

Upon contacting friend and former child-actor turned lawyer, Bobby Diamond, it was suggested to Whitaker not to fight the charge which would bring unwanted and unfair publicity (being that he is a celebrity of sorts) but to plead it down to trespassing which charge Whitaker received and to which he is paying a fine of $733.00.

Whitaker also states, "I thought I'd been able to squeak by without this personal situation being blown out of proportion, however, four months later I was approached by Mr. Glynn after they contacted a very dear friend of mine and probed him for answers to which he knew nothing. My friend immediately called me and told me that they'd taken him by surprise. He said he hadn't eaten or slept for two days. When Mr. Glynn personally contacted me, I was so angry over my friend's situation that I tried to shock him by saying, "I should have had one of my Slaves go get the stuff for my mistress." I asked Mr. Glynn if he wanted the whole story of debauchery and intrigue and went forward insinuating a bit more of an 'exciting' story than that which actually happened. Again, I was extremely angry and so when Mr. Glynn asked me if the S&M indicators were true, I told him emphatically, "I'm under strict orders by my Mistress /Dominatrix that I can't talk about these things." Unfortunately, for me, Mr. Glynn took these angry quips as being true. Whitaker continues, "Living in Los Angeles in 2001, I am aware of S&M and have friends who are a part of the scene. My hat is off to them and support any legal way they choose to socialize. I, however, am not, nor have ever been involved in that scene."

"During my drugging days, I will admit to having numerous questionable encounters ... but that is one of the unfortunate situations of my past. I work each day trying to better myself in that regard and strive to have positive friendships and relationships. I would ask the press to respect my friends and family and their privacy. You can bash me all you want, but please, DON'T go after my friends and family."