Anti-billboard protester finds he can't get arrested

registerguard.com ^ | 12 Sept 03 | AP

[bicycle thug]

McMINNVILLE - Retired Air Force Maj. Wes Carter could probably use a lesson or two from anti-war protesters.

The disabled Gulf War veteran had hoped to get arrested this week to show his anger at giant new billboards proposed in McMinnville. To accomplish this, he planned to block the doorway to Pogy's Sub Sandwiches, one of five businesses that have signed leases for the billboards.

Nobody would arrest him.

``The police said I could stay out here all day if I wanted to,'' he said.

Carter was largely responsible for his own inability to get arrested. He chose to protest during a nonpeak hour - 3 p.m.- and he notified the shop owner ahead of time.

His words also lacked fire.

``I apologize to Pogy's Restaurant for the inconvenience caused in protest of their decision,'' he wrote in a statement announcing his protest. ``They're nice folks with a great barbecue chicken sandwich.''

Pogy's owner Debbie Service also had no interest in getting Carter arrested. ``I am not the kind of person who's going to have a vet arrested,'' she said as she sliced cheese. ``My husband is a vet. And my father was a veteran of World War II.''

[bicycle thug]

This guy as a natural as a FReeper even if he isn't actually someone who gets online. He wants to make his point, but the inconvenience and contentiousness of protest are hard for him to take. I would imagine he was quite a decent officer and a gentleman when he had been on active duty.

[netmilsmom]

Geez, what a nice guy! Do you know what the billboards say?

[Zack Nguyen]

I'm impressed by this guy's manners. I am also impressed with the shop owner who didn't have him arrested. This has to be somewhere in the South or Midwest. What state is it?

[bicycle thug]

Sounds like they were standard commercial billboards. Billboards were almost made illegal here in Oregon in the early 70s, but commercial interests made Govenor Tom McCall and the legislature back off.

Oregonians have always had a love hate thingy about billboards.

[bicycle thug]

That part of Oregon is very conservative and very much unlike the heavily populated Willamette Valley that controls state government.

[Zack Nguyen]

Thanks!