A man charged with a series of bank robberies in Oregon is seeking to have his case dismissed after police admitted to digitally editing his mugshot to remove facial tattoos before presenting it to witnesses.
Tyrone Lamont Allen, 50, faces charges related to four bank robberies in the Portland area in April 2017. Police released surveillance images of the suspect, dubbed the 'Foul Mouth Bandit', which led to an anonymous tip identifying Allen.
During the investigation, police altered Allen's booking photo by removing his distinctive facial tattoos and darkening his skin, a process described by a forensic criminologist as 'applying digital makeup'. The edited image was used in a photo line-up shown to bank tellers.
Allen's lawyer, Mark Ahlemeyer, argued that the alteration was designed to make his client more closely resemble the suspect, calling it a 'slippery slope' given modern technology. He questioned whether police could similarly alter other features like missing teeth or skin colour.
Prosecutors defended the practice, stating that the suspect's 'immutable facial features' were a match and that the edits were equivalent to applying makeup. Assistant US Attorney Paul Maloney said the aim was to help Allen 'blend in' so his photo would not stand out.
US District Judge Marco A Hernandez has indicated he will soon rule on the admissibility of the altered photo. The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about the reliability of photo line-ups, with federal guidelines requiring documentation of any alterations.
