Guest Andrea Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Of all the dumb things that people can be arrested for..... Elderly Woman Arrested in Clash Over Dry Lawn Calls Experience 'Nightmare' Monday , July 09, 2007 A 70-year-old Utah woman, who was arrested last week for refusing to accept a ticket for a dry lawn she couldn't afford to water, told FOX News Monday that the arrest was her "worst nightmare." Betty Perry, of Orem, Utah, was arrested Friday after police tried to ticket her for her brown, sickly lawn. "It was horrible," Perry told FOX News, describing her arrest. "It was like your worst nightmare." The police officer who arrested her has been suspended by his red-faced bosses. "Life is a learning experience, and each officer learns over the course of a career that tactics and responses are not absolute in each situation," said :siteSearch('Lt. Doug Edwards')'>Lt. Doug Edwards, a spokesman for Orem police. When the officer knocked on Perry's door, she refused to identify herself or accept a citation and said she wanted to call her son. Click here for FOXNews.com's Crime center. As the officer tried to take her hand, Perry tripped on the front step, cut the bridge of her nose and rolled onto her stomach, putting her hands under her to foil the officer, Edwards said. Perry was eventually handcuffed and taken to jail, where she spent more than an hour before officials decided custody was inappropriate. The woman hasn't watered her lawn in a year, a violation of a city ordinance, Edwards said. "I've never been attacked before like that," Perry told KSL-TV. "I can't afford to turn my water on for $50 a month. ... I just hope he can apologize and this can all be forgotten." The officer's name was not released. Orem is in Utah County, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. "There were other options available to handle this situation besides making an arrest and holding the woman in jail," Edwards said. "Certainly had the woman been a shoplifter at the mall who refused to identify herself, no one would question or be surprised that she was arrested and handcuffed, regardless of her age," he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I haven't watered my lawn in over 19 years ..LOL..Come and get me boys. What a stupid law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 on another fuorum i visit, there was one a couple weeks ago about a guy who was thrown in jail because his lawn was dirt...apparently he had paid someone to lay sod, and they never came, had the receipts from it and everything, was still put in jail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaveGP Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 i have heard of people stealing copper... pretty soon you will have to lock up your sod! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 That is pretty stupid. Some laws just make no sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Someone needs a kick in the head. Apparently that cop had nothing better to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sorry folks but I cant agree with ya on this one. She refused to ID herself to an Officer for a simple ticket and then resisted arrest. If she wasn't a 70 year old woman would we still think its a big deal. If you have a problem with a ticket you fight it in court! The Officer is just doing his job, He didn't make up the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sorry folks but I cant agree with ya on this one. She refused to ID herself to an Officer for a simple ticket and then resisted arrest. If she wasn't a 70 year old woman would we still think its a big deal. If you have a problem with a ticket you fight it in court! The Officer is just doing his job, He didn't make up the law. Hold on to your socks...I am usually the first one to support police officers, in the line of duty, but not this time...LOL If an officer came to my door, to arrest me for not watering my grass, I would resist also. She should get a recommendation for water conservation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christsavedme Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Some places have some really stupid laws.....Sad situation to say the least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sorry folks but I cant agree with ya on this one. She refused to ID herself to an Officer for a simple ticket and then resisted arrest. If she wasn't a 70 year old woman would we still think its a big deal. If you have a problem with a ticket you fight it in court! The Officer is just doing his job, He didn't make up the law. He'd have to fight me too. He shouldn't have even approached her house. Some "laws" are overlooked every single day by authorities. And for the simple reason that they are laws that are either outdated or just so retarded that they aren't worth the time and trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Let me make sure I understand this, if I think the law is stupid I should refuse to ID myself and assault the police when they try to arrest me? I don't know why the officer issued the ticket, maybe there was a complaint or maybe he was told to start enforcing the green grass law. For whatever reason he did it he was well within the law to do so. I am not saying I would have handled it the same but I was not there at the time. However, once I tell you that you are under arrest fighting will only make your stay a lot longer and more costly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Let me make sure I understand this, if I think the law is stupid I should refuse to ID myself and assault the police when they try to arrest me? I don't know why the officer issued the ticket, maybe there was a complaint or maybe he was told to start enforcing the green grass law. For whatever reason he did it he was well within the law to do so. I am not saying I would have handled it the same but I was not there at the time. However, once I tell you that you are under arrest fighting will only make your stay a lot longer and more costly. Apparently his boss was not impressed with this arrest. He's been suspended. And nowhere in the article did it say that the elderly woman "assaulted the officer". She tripped however, when he pulled her by the hand and cut the bridge of her nose. The state of Utah must not have any REAL criminals, that's all I can figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8ptbuckpa Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I am with zoo on this one the police officer wasn't there to arrest her he was just there to give her a citation. Thats all she had to do was except it and the go to court fight it. her unwillingness is what lead to her arrest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 "There were other options available to handle this situation besides making an arrest and holding the woman in jail," Edwards said. Stuff that should show up in the mail. Why even dispatch a police officer in the first place. The whole incident could have been avoided. Why did the officer try to take her hand? The ignorance of some in authority is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Ill send her money to water her lawn...Im pretty sure its not a jailable offense to not water your lawn.....man ohhhhh man.....when I wore the badge, I wanted to arrest several individuals for aggravated stupidity.....and thats the truth.....some people just shouldn't breed............its sad that this officer brought attention to his department like this....apparently the situation went bad fast unfortunately.....sometimes you have to put yourself in the mindset of a 70 year old person.....some are not all there, and regard things differently.....it definately could of been handled differently.......al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sorry folks but I cant agree with ya on this one. She refused to ID herself to an Officer for a simple ticket and then resisted arrest. If she wasn't a 70 year old woman would we still think its a big deal. If you have a problem with a ticket you fight it in court! The Officer is just doing his job, He didn't make up the law. hed have to call swat on me ... I woulda slammed the door in his face and laughed at him ... when he explained to swat why he couldnt get me outa the house I think that would be all it would take ... what a moron ... thats not his job anyhow ... I guarantee you that the law would fall under code enforcement and last time I checked police didnt enforce code ... plain and simple ... the cop got suspended ... obviously you are the only one who thinks that he was in the right ... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 The police officer who arrested her has been suspended by his red-faced bosses. "Life is a learning experience, and each officer learns over the course of a career that tactics and responses are not absolute in each situation," said :siteSearch('Lt. Doug Edwards')'>Lt. Doug Edwards, a spokesman for Orem police. "There were other options available to handle this situation besides making an arrest and holding the woman in jail," Edwards said. Gotta agree with the Lt this time....and not often does an E-7 agree with an Lt! Reminds me of watching some guys who were dorks in HS and now have a little power over somebody, but have no idea how to deal with it! I little common sense could have taken care of this whole deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revhard Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 if you own your lawn, pay property taxes on it out of your pocket, you aughta to be able to set fire to it daily if you want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 she clearly told the cop that she couldn't afford to pay the water bill. i see a pretty big over reaction here. but, we all make mistakes. the cop should learn, go back to work, and the city council should take a look at their laws on watering lawns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant-KS Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Thank God I live in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 I will agree that it was not handled right. I also agree the whole matter is ridiculous. I do think that if you have a problem with the law or with an officer you should handle it in court, thats the reason we have court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan1990 Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Wow what a dumb law. I dont think we have that law in Oklahoma but that makes me wanna tear up all the sod I laid Friday then watch them try to ticket me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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