Driver learns about 'flipping off' sheriff

The Indianapolis Star ^ | March 16, 2004 | Associated Press

[Samwise]

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- A woman made an obscene gesture toward an SUV Monday -- one carrying the county sheriff and chief deputy -- and ended up in jail, police said.

Mary Ann Sweeney, 33, of Evansville was stopped behind a bus.

[Born Conservative]

I can relate; I have the same automatic reflex that you do, and I'm worried that it will happen sometime when it shouldn't!

[looscnnn]

"Ellsworth and Williams pulled Sweeney over to talk to her about her "road rage""

Ok, so now it is "road rage" to flip someone off. That is a bunch of crap.

[Reeses]

it was my neighbor beeping to say hi!

One time a friend was at a stoplight behind a car with a bumper sticker that read "Honk if you love Jesus!". So he thought for a moment then decided to honk. He was promptly given the finger.

[Badray]

"'You are right, there is nothing I can do to you. Sorry about that'. 2-3 hours after the whole ordeal started, the guy quietly drives away, moral victory in hand..."

So are you telling me that this was a good use of tax paid time and good use of police resources. Yea, the guy was an ass and still will be one after this. If this is the best use of this cop's time, then the state can save some money because you don't need cops who have nothing better to do.

[Joe Boucher]

When I initially read this I was thinking that this cop had no right arresting this poor woman, flipping someone off is a right of free expression.
Back when Spiro Agnew was running for election with Dick Nixon a guy came to one of Mr. Agnews events to obviously protest because this guy flipped Mr. Agnew off.
Mr Agnew had a secret service agent arrest this guy who ultimately persued that case to the U.S. supreme court. The court ruled that this was an act of free expression.

Where is probable cause in regards to the search?
Any typical filthy bottom feeding lawyer will get her off in a second.

[Henrietta]

"Ellsworth and Williams pulled Sweeney over to talk to her about her "road rage" and ran a check on her license plate."

This is a totally inappropriate exercise of police power. If she wasn't breaking the law, she should not have been stopped. Being a stupid jerk is not against the law.

[Nebr FAL owner]

So true, One has to wonderat times.

[Henrietta]

Yeah, just another bad cop exercising his power. If he were secure, he'd just ignore it instead of resorting to an illegal arrest. And then the taxpayers pay for the lawsuit.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

what is on your ping list? more funnies??

chicagofarmer

[TankerKC]

I be interested to read something other than the "official police" version of this story.

[CharlieOK1]

I think he pulled her over because she was driving recklessly. She did pull right in front of him causing him to have to brake, presumably without looking or signalling. While not a big deal, I do believe that is against the law. If there would have been a collision, it would have been her fault.

[Junior]

D'oh!

[dfwgator]

A woman made an obscene gesture toward an SUV Monday

She'd better hope the SUV didn't take it personally, you know how those evil SUVs love to attack people.

[Badray]

A few thoughts:

I'm wondering about all those here who are telling stories of 'flipping people off'. They think this story is funny and this woman got what she deserved, but they flip people off too.

Are these people gun owners with carry permits? If they get into a fight after flipping someone off and it escalates, they can be in real trouble.

I maintain that an armed society is a polite society and since I'm always armed, I'm always polite.

[Samwise]

I think he pulled her over because she was driving recklessly.

If I were a cop, I'd spend so much time pulling over reckless drivers....

My husband likes to say, "Some people have brains, other people have driver's licenses."

[mhking]

what is on your ping list? more funnies??

Usually. Stuff that makes you shake your head and say "just damn."

(Only lots of it.)

[PISANO]

Bet she is a DEMOCRAT. Any takers?

[Quix]

I wonder how much . . . what . . . florists or some such would make if we could send maybe

DUH!

balloons to such idiots!

[Quix]

They no doubt had help.

Their parents no doubt trained them diligently for 18 odd years

to be selfish, rebellious and defiant.

our land is beginning to reap the whirlwind of that now.