(Dana)Perino’s husband jailed for dog leash violation

Examiner.com ^ | 4 MAY 2007 | Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin,

[radar101]

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino is married to a true scofflaw. Well, only in the eyes of the U.S. Park Police, who saw fit to throw him in jail for having his dog off a leash.

Back in November, Perino’s husband, British businessman Peter McMahon, was walking their dog Henry — leashless — in Lincoln Park just east of the Capitol.

According to the original complaint, obtained by Yeas & Nays, Officer Stephen Smith of the Park Police asked him to “gain control of” Henry, an 8-year-old Vizsla breed, and “put him on a leash.”

McMahon replied that he didn’t have a leash, so Smith issued him a violation notice, complete with a $25 fine. “Why don’t you go chase down some squirrels,” McMahon then suggested to the officer.

According to representatives of the Park Police and D.C. Superior Court, he had 15 days to pay such a fine or request a court date, or else a warrant could be issued for his arrest.

Other sources familiar with the case say McMahon tried for months to pay the fine. Trouble was, the ticket did not note an address where it should be sent. Nevertheless, McMahon found an address for the Park Police and mailed his payment there.

It was too late. Early last month, McMahon returned from business overseas to discover that Smith had requested a warrant for his arrest, which a judge issued.

So on April 12, off McMahon went to the Park Police headquarters to pay the fine in person, when he was thrown in jail for the whole day.

Welcome to our nation’s capital, Mr. McMahon!

Perino and her husband declined to comment for the record.

[csivils]

Congressional hearings start next month!

[Dustbunny]

Geeze, excuse me, I’ll make sure I don’t have any more comments that you don’t agree with. /sarc