Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Barbie collection found after underworld probe Date: Wed, 28 Oct 92 15:01:10 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Barbie collection found after underworld probe \BY Rex Dalton \CR COPLEY NEWS SERVICE \DT SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO - After an investigation through a world - starkly different from Barbie's and Ken's - of death, drugs, guns and homosexual pornography, authorities here have recovered a stolen Barbie doll collection worth $1 million. The dolls were found safe and sound Monday in rented storage rooms. There, at a news conference called by police, the dolls' owner, Glen Offield, 42, proudly surveyed his unique collection, known among experts as being the world's most comprehensive. "I am still numb," Mr. Offield said as he removed the dolls from boxes in which they had been repacked for storage by the thief. "It looks like everything is here. But I can't imagine anyone would steal this collection." Authorities say the one-of-a-kind collection was stolen by Mr. Offield's former boss, Bruce Scott Sloggett, 41, who ran Another Video Co., which made videos featuring sexually explicit acts by men. The videos are sold nationally to individuals and distributors. Mr. Sloggett's body was found Saturday morning in his home. His death probably was a suicide or caused by a drug overdose and is still being investigated by the county medical examiner, a police spokesman said. In addition to being under investigation for the Oct. 10 doll theft, Mr. Sloggett was facing felony charges for the alleged possession and sale of drugs, as well as assault with a deadly weapon, and was free on $50,000 bail. He was arrested on those charges a week ago as police followed tips that led them through the male porn industry in search of the Barbies. Mr. Sloggett started the video company in August 1991, operating it out of a San Diego office, according to state records. Mr. Offield has said he was an art director for the video business. He couldn't be reached Monday night to discuss his role in the company. Court records, authorities, neighbors, real estate agents, and sources familiar with the video company and Mr. Sloggett provided details from which emerged this picture of the events leading to the theft of the dolls and the torching of Mr. Offield's San Diego home to destroy evidence: Mr. Offield and Mr. Sloggett had a falling-out about a week before the theft, after which Mr. Offield left the video company. He now says he is unemployed, living in a hotel and trying to find a new place to live. Capt. Jeffrey A. Carle of the San Diego Fire Department's arson team said authorities believe Mr. Sloggett stole the dolls intending to resell them. Late on the night of Oct. 18, police and arson investigators served a search warrant on Mr. Sloggett's home. Neighbors say he was taken away in a police car about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 19. No dolls were found at the house, Capt. Carle said, but authorities did discover a quantity of methamphetamine. Authorities also found what Capt. Carle described as "a sadomasochistic den." At Monday's news conference, Mr. Offield pointed out the individual aspects of the Barbie dolls, which dated to the late 1950s. They included rare outfits featuring Barbie on a "Roman Holiday," as a Braniff stewardess and in a "fashion luncheon" ensemble complete with pillbox hat modeled after one worn by Jackie Kennedy. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM