That the supervisor thinks that this is a “learning experience” for an “intelligent” “young” officer, rather than grounds for immediate dismissal tells me that this is an entire police department out of control.
I don't know the laws wherever this was, but I think the cop broke the law by not being in an offical car. It was not in his capacity to arrest her. I wonder if he isn't some neighbor who holds a grudge because his yard is manicured? Man, I hate bullies!
This whole mess sounds unreasonable.
I got a ticket for watering my lawn on the wrong day.
“Other options?” The Kelo decision?
The Orem police officer, as yet unnamed by city officials, cited Perry for violating a city ordinance with her "sadly neglected and dying landscape," which resembles dry hay.
You know what else dry hay resembles? Fuel. Orem is in part of Utah under severe fire weather warnings. I don't give a damn if your lawn is ugly, but I do care if I'm at risk of losing my house because you have a yard full of tinder.
A lot of the laws governing lawns are there for silly aesthetic reasons, but not all.
When Perry refused to give her name and tried to walk inside to call her son, the officer tried to arrest her, police say. According to a police news release, while she was struggling, she tripped and fell on her doorstop, cutting open the bridge of her nose. But Perry maintains the officer split her nose when he hit her with the set of handcuffs he was trying to restrain her with.
Free hint #1: When a cop gets you a ticket, take it. A ticket is as good as it will get.
Free hint #2: Don't turn your back on a cop and try to re-enter the house. He has no way of knowing you're not going for a shotgun just inside the front door.
Free hint #3: When a cop tries to physically prevent you from going back in the house, do not physically resist. Scream, protest and plead all you want, but do not physically resist. That just heightens his suspicions, and you will lose.
The place to fight the cop is in court.
"As far as I'm concerned, he really abused me - he brutally abused me," Perry said.
She was "brutally abused" by tripping while running from the cops?
Ask yourself honestly. Put a 35-year-old black male homeowner in the exact same fact pattern. Refuses to give his name, tries to go back in the house, struggles with the cop, trips and falls. How many FReepers' first reaction would be to condemn the cops and rush to his defense?
lol...they sent the police to cite the lady for a dried up yard. I can’t believe this stuff happens in this country.
Normally, if your in violation of an ordinance the city just sends you a nasty letter ie; “The United Nations” and says you have 30 days to fix the situation. If you don’t, then they will fix it for you and charge you.
I wouldn’t step outside of my house to talk to a cop, or open the screen door to let them in. No way. They are not there to help.
Everyone has made excellent points and while 70 year old ladies can go into “drama mode” and hurt themselves, there should never have been any reason for him to be in a physical altercation with her. She may go into her house, if she likes, period. The officer doesn’t have a warrant, she wants to go into her house, it’s over. He had no reasonable suspicion a crime was about to be committed, so what he should do is turn on his heels and leave. He writes it in his report they mail her a fine and all this is avoided. I have read it his her house and that it seems to be ok that her grass was dry.There is a law and I suspect there is a reason for the law. If I were her neighbor I might be a tad concerned that while she was out seeing the world in her RV someone might throw a cigarette in that tinderbox she calls a yard, and their house is clearly involved in the situation.
The militarization of our police force continues.
I wonder how long before the storm trooper apologists arrive.
Are old women merely easier to manage than real police work?
to protect and serve.
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.I live in Orem, and when I saw a TV news story where the woman was being interviewed, I could swear I’d had dealings with her before. I can’t remember exactly where, but I have a vague memory that she was a somewhat agressive nut.
My encounters with the Orem PD have always been excellent. They are not aggressive control freaks.
My educated guess is that this woman provoked the whole thing.
This fascist piece of garbage needs to be among the general population in prison.
Now she’ll be able to afford a nice landscaper .......