Overview

Maryland Police Officer Caught Kissing Woman refers to the controversy surrounding a viral video of a Maryland police officer, Francesco Marlett, kissing a woman, Virginia Pinto, in a parking lot at Carson Park, then entering the back of his police cruiser with her. The video went viral and in September 2023 after it was posted to TikTok, inspiring the Prince George’s County Police Department to launch an investigation into the officer and suspend him. Some people online believed the punishment was not severe enough, particularly after it was revealed that Marlett, in the past, was suspended after being charged with child abuse in 2016. Following the news of his 2023 suspension, Marlett's wife Paula went viral after posting a statement and video to Facebook expressing her sadness over the incident and telling Pinto to "rot in hell," with Pinto revealing that she'd been seeing Francesco for years and was unapologetic over the situation.

Background

On September 5th, 2023, TikToker^[1] @trapploss_ posted a video of a Maryland police officer kissing a woman and then going into the back of his cruiser with her. The video was shot at Carson Park next to Oxon Hill High School. The uploader clarifies in the description that the video is not theirs. The video gained over 2.4 million views in two days (shown below, left). On the same day, TikToker^[2] @ilovemymank posted a second video allegedly showing the same cop allowing the same woman into the back of his cruiser, garnering over 238,000 views in two days (shown below, right). The validity of the video was allegedly confirmed by the police department, according to a report by the Daily Mail.^[13]

Developments

Later that day on September 5th, 2023, the @PGPDNews X^[3] (Twitter) page made a post announcing that they were investigating the viral video, writing, "As soon as we became aware earlier today, we opened an investigation to determine the circumstances. Additional information will be released once investigated and confirmed," garnering over 900 likes in two days. A few hours later, they posted an update to X,^[4] writing, "the officer has been identified. His police powers are now suspended as the investigation continues," garnering over 400 likes in two days (shown below). Numerous media outlets reported on the story that day, including ABC,^[5] the New York Post^[6] and TMZ.^[7]

The officer was identified as Francesco Marlett, with Fox Baltimore^[8] reporting that he was previously suspended in 2016 after he was found guilty of child abuse for allegedly knocking his girlfriend's 3-year-old son unconscious after he soiled the bed.^[9] The article also alleges he was suspended for a month in May 2023 for a domestic violence accusation. The department allegedly claims both allegations were unfounded.^[14]

Paula Marlett's Statement

On September 6th, 2023, Paula Marlett, the alleged wife of Francesco Marlett, posted a statement to Facebook^[10] about the situation that gained over 1,000 reactions and 180 shares in a day in which she exposed the rumored first name of the woman in the video, Virginia, and tells her to "rot in hell," writing:

Thank you everyone. Yes this is a very tough time for me and my kids. As embarrassing and painful as this is please check in on us. We need the support the love and most of all the respect from the community and our families. Yes I know what’s been going on. No, I am not updating anyone on this situation after today. Virginias husband left her ass a long time ago bc she cheated so she and my husband decided to do this behind my back for years. I’m not seeking anyone else’s input, I don’t need anyone’s opinion. My life is my life. I will make decisions according. I Love you all. Except for you Virginia you can rot in hell bitch. ↪️Virginia Pinto

That day, she also posted a video to her TikTok^[11] page, @icyy_muvva, in which she played the viral video and then reacted, crying in her car. In the video, she says Francesco's excuse is, "Oh I was just talking to her." The video gained over 9,700 views in a day (shown below). It was reported on by X^[12] user @DailyLoud on September 7th, garnering over 7,400 likes in under a day.

Virginia Pinto's Interview With the New York Post

On September 6th, 2023, Virginia Pinto, the woman seen kissing Marlett in the video, was interviewed by the New York Post.^[14] In the interview, Pinto, who is an army veteran, claims she is a single mother and has been seeing Marlett for around two years. She is quoted as saying, "“Of course, since he’s a police officer, it looks bad. But I just want people to understand that this was not a one-night stand.” She is also quoted as saying:

“I’m living my life. I have children. I’m sure, as you guys know, I have a 15-year-old autistic boy. His father was Caucasian. I guess I have a thing for Caucasians. In my head, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m going to continue living my life, doing what I’m doing. In my heart, in his heart, I know that I’ve done nothing. He knows. Paula knows. I’ve done nothing wrong. God is my higher power.”

The article then shares several texts sent to their reporter by Paula that day where she bad-mouths Virginia, writing:

“Seems like Virginia has a mouthful to give about me when her husband left her dirty ass bc she can’t stop cheating and inserting herself into other ppls business. My husband used her for sex bc she was easy … I never put our marriage out there bc like all marriages we hit a rough patch. We get through everything at the end of the day."

Search Interest

External References