Posted on 10/08/2004 9:39:18 AM PDT by skyman
WASHINGTON -- A woman from Bowie, Md., who was arrested for eating a candy bar at a Metro station, had her day in court Thursday, but it was a brief visit.
Stephanie Willett claims she was frisked under her shirt, handcuffed and held for three hours after a Metro transit officer confronted her for eating a candy bar on the escalator.
Transit police claim Willett was "belligerent."
In court Thursday, Willett tried to tell a judge what happened that day, but she was cut off after a few minutes. The judge told Willett her case is over and that it ended when she posted $10 to get out of jail last July.
Willett has a year to appeal the arrest.
The incident gained worldwide attention, and goes on a list of other Metro Transit Police actions that have raised both eyebrows and questions.
In September, a transit officer reportedly forced a pregnant woman down on the floor and pushed his knee in her back, after he claimed she was talking too loud on a cell phone.
In 2002, an officer ticketed a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy patient who the officer said cursed when he was unable to find a working elevator to exit the system.
And in 2000, an officer handcuffed a 12-year-old girl for eating a french fry on a subway platform.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc4.com ...
I wasn't there, so I have to rely on the local ratmedia ... as I recall from a comPost article she more or less ignored the cop, and finished her candybar as quickly as possible. She claimed she wasn't actually on Metro property when she was eating, cop claimed she was. IIRC, when he wrote the ticket she got mouthy.
Need some advice. About 6 months ago I was pulled over for a dui. I had no priors, and I was guilty. However, they also hancuffed my wife and she and I spent the night in jail, despite the fact my wife did nothing. Fyi, we were returning from a picnic, and I had a tad to much wine. Also, I wasn't speeding nor driving recklessly.. My wife is a 51 year old grandmother btw. What should I do?
The system has been clean for the past two decades, and I'm given to understand that it never really went through the "vandalised and thuggy" phase that the NYC subway had. And you're quite right ... MetroRail tolerates no crap whatsoever of any kind. NYC Subway adopted a similar policy some years ago, and is supposed to be much improved over it's grafitti covered, litter filled hellhole days in the 1970s and '80s.
so I'm guessing that you can't eat on the subway?
If you don't want to slip on a dropped 'freedom' fry, then watch where you walk.
Similarly, if you don't want to sit in a spilled soda, then look before you plop your butt down.
If you don't like a loud, stupid cellphone conversation, then move to a different car/seat.
It's not that difficult and it certainly doesn't require a cop, nor does it require you to become Owl_Getz.
Again, no one if forcing you to take public transportation. It's a decision you make every time you get on a bus/train/subway. Dealing with these issues is a natural consequence of your decision. If you don't like the consequences, then next time, choose differently.
There's no eating allowed on the system.
belligerent white dirtbags also rate. not only is everything about them, but there just isn't anything in life worth considering except somehow besting the object of their tantrum. nothing to be sorry about if there's nothing there.......
How can her case be ended by posting bail?
To be arrested she had to be charged with something.
OK, let's that's one vote for subways becoming public s**tholes.
It's an infraction, similar to a traffic ticket. The "fine" is actually bail.
I probably wouldn't have a problem with this if I knew for sure she was eating IN the system. From what I've read, she actually put the candy bar in her mouth and was chewing as she went down the escaltor. In which case, the cop and Metro were out of line. Has anyone heard differently?
I happened to have read the pregnant woman kneed in the back story, and my take away was that she was cursing loudly and was asked to stop before she became beligerant and escalated it (and got pinned). So, considering that, I'd say a person who through no fault of their own sat in soda, that would be worse than someone who had a direct hand in escalating the situation.
That's just my opinion, but if you help create the situation, a lot of the blame falls on yourself.
Well, I just got into town about an hour ago
Took a look around, see which way the wind blow
-John Kerry
1. You drank and drove.
2. You didn't let your wife drive
3. Your wife didn't stop you.
Oh, this makes so much more sense now. I didn't think Rudy would have left nuts like that on the force, and I don't think even RINO to end all RINO's Bloomberg would have screwd that up yet.
She claims she wasn't on the property; the cop says otherwise. All concerned indicate that she quickly stepped into BPOC mode at .
I disagree. There are posted rules against all three of the aforementioned activities. When I pay my fare, I'm agreeing to abide by those rules as is everyone else. As a conservative, I think these rules should be both abided by and enforced.
Well, I just got into town about an hour ago
Took a look around, see which way the wind blow
-John Kerry
My! We always consider NBC to be 100% accurate in their reports ...
So this was a kangaroo court.
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