Posted on 01/23/2008 11:31:08 AM PST by HD1200
CLEARWATER - The 75-year-old grandmother who was arrested Thursday at a McDonald's on a charge of disorderly conduct gave an officer lip, according to a police report. Jean Merola swore at the officer and said, "You are an evil man. Your wife is going to divorce you. Your kids probably hate you too. You are going to hell," according to the report.
Officer Matthew Parco was behind Merola in line and had received his drink; he asked her to move up so he could get around her but she didn't respond. Parco spent about 20 minutes asking Merola to move the car before she was arrested.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I am reasonably sure that the only difference would have been that the biker would have gotten a lot less time to move, and that the officer would have had his hand on the handle of his gun until the biker left, and if the biker made a false move the officer would have canceled his ticket on the spot.
All I can say is that one goes to Mickey D’s for an order of fries and a coffee at one’s peril.
She didn't do the things in bold.
My experience would support the cop looking at the manager and saying, "What do you want me to do about it?" just before driving away.
Two points.
1. The taxpayers pay for his time whether he spends it on this woman or spends it waiting for his food. That is not bad or good it is just a fact so we are indifferent , economically, to what he does with his time.
2.It is not an emergency whether she wastes his time or mine, but his time is no more valuable than mine so if I can be expected to wait so can the cop in my opinion.
“Granma should have been tazerd.”
You are advocating something which could very likely kill an elderly person. If not from the shock then from the fall to the ground. You are insane to suggest this for a woman who is being rude and is not a threat to anyone. You are a great example of why the use of force needs to be closely monitored.
Tazing is intended to allow the LEO to obtain physical control over the person being arrested. Tasering is not lawfully used as a punishment by the arresting officer. To do so is a crime.
But that is not what you said. You said that age should not be a consideration when deciding to use restraint. As people age they often lose a measure of their mental ability. That manifests itself in many different ways. They also become less and less of a physical threat. I expect every adult to understand this and practice restraint accordingly. I personally give the elderly a lot of slack.
Of course, in your world the cop would shoot the 90 year old man who fails to put his hands in clear view and reaches down to grab a battery for his hearing aide.
You may be correct. He should have beat her with a baton.
“You may be correct. He should have beat her with a baton.”
You are an idiot, next you’ll say he shoulda shot her.
I did not say that age should not be considered when using restraint. Of course the cops should take that into consideration. What I meant was age does not exempt someone from the statute. That’s all.
IMHO....no laws were broken, it was private property, and really none of the police’s business, what she was doing there...now if Macs, had asked the police to remove her from the property then that would be different, and lawful application of force by a police officer...I bet she cleans up with a nice settlement....
I can’t believe some of these excessive force advocates are on Free Republic. Excessive force is how Socialists and Communists deal with every situation. Maybe you should go over to DU. And your lack of respect for older people is appalling. Equating every quibble with authority as deserving of arrest is worthy of Communism. And saying that every older person has senile dementia reminds me of the Nazis calling genocide euthanasia. What do you call it when younger people disrespect your authority? Juvenile Dementia? This is much more common. If this is the way Free thinkers think, then I really hate to see what’s going to happen with the Democrats if they are able to take control.
Just in the knee to get her attention.
No laws broken?
City of Clearwater Municipal Code 21.11(2)
(2) Obstruction of public places. It shall be unlawful for any person after first being warned by a law enforcement officer to willfully obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of the Pinellas County Trail or of any public or quasipublic sidewalk, curb, bicycle path, walking area, mall or that portion of private property utilized for public use, so as to endanger the safe movement of pedestrians or vehicles thereon; and no person after being warned by a law enforcement officer shall willfully block or obstruct, or willfully prevent the free access to the entrance to any building open to the public.
The point is that his time shouldn't have been wasted by this silly person.
She cost the taxpayers money for which they received nothing of value.
his time is no more valuable than mine
It is to you, because you are paying for his time.
If he waits, you are paying him to wait rather than to do something more constructive with your money.
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/22/images/policereport.pdf
Read the police report with witness statements; there was only one jerk: it was the granny.
agreed. theres only one correct response to the officer
when he tells you to move. most of us learned that as kids.
Why do you really want to stand up for a selfish old hag like this? She sounds like exactly the sort of selfish person would howl in protest if a politician were to so much as mention social security reform.
“I wonder what tomorrow will bring?”
I’m guessing we’ll have video tomorrow. LOL!
I stopped posting on this thread hours ago, but you can’t let it go. What does that say? They took her off in handcuffs; surely that brings you joy. After all, she’s only an “old hag.”
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