(Photo: Fox 8)
Posted on 05/24/2012 10:00:14 AM PDT by from occupied ga
(Photo: Fox 8)
Last Monday, John Davis was reportedly exiting the I-90 in Cleveland, Ohio when he saw a pale, thin man in a wheelchair holding a sign that said something along the lines of, “Love Jesus, Please Help.”
Davis, who has a brother that is paralyzed, says he enjoys helping people, particularly since he knows how much his brother struggles.
(Related: Beck: The Left Uses ‘Political System X’ to Co-Opt the Homeless)
“Not only that, but he‘s needing some money or he wouldn’t be out there,” Davis remarked of the man in the wheelchair.
So, Davis recalled, he grabbed a couple of dollars and folded them, extending his arm out his window to give the bills to the man.
“He touched it. It hit the ground. At that point, he bent over and he picked it up,” Davis explained.
(Photo: Fox 8)
It was only a few seconds before police cruiser lights began flashing, and an officer reportedly told Davis he was being cited for littering.
“Are you serious?” Davis asked.
“I’m darn serious,” the officer allegedly responded, writing “Throw paper out window,” on the ticket, and in parenthesis, “money to panhandler.”
Watch John Davis’ account of the events, below:
Now, Fox 8 notes that Ohio does have a law that prohibits panhandling and giving money to panhandlers near a highway or street (including a berm, shoulder, treelawn or sidewalk), but that is not what the man was seemingly ticketed for.
When Davis protested, the officer reportedly told him to “take it up with the courts,” where he may have to pay $500, including associated court fees.
“I don’t mean any disrespect toward the police department at all, we need ‘em, but I just wish I didn’t have to pay this ticket,” Davis said.
Not only that, but he said this will undeniably curtail his future charitable givings towards the homeless.
“I’d like to do it again but I’m petrified I’m going to get a ticket.”
How can it be littering if money was “dropped” but then picked up so there was nothing on the ground?
Dunkin donuts must have been closed for inventory.
Is it just me or does it seem that nowadays every cop I see looks like a roided up NFL reject?
Because the cop will not face any consequences for obviously making up/distorting a law to write a ticket. There isn't any control over our brave heroes as they go around protecting society like this.
Obviously the officer had a good reason for writing the ticket. I’m sure there’s more to the story than we’re seeing (the guy was probably hopped up on drugs and had child pr0nography in his dash), so it looks like the guy got what he deserved.
\Free Republic police bootlick brigade
Allow me to lavish the disrespect on this ahole. We don't need pigs like this. Let the cop pay $500 for wasting the courts time and harassing the citizens who pay him then fire him.
Revenue officer. More revenue from littering ticket than panhandling arrest, and much less work.
You jest, but they will be here probably telling us how this is just an abberation, and the guy was doing something wrong, etc. (Oh and I forgot they’ll come up with “You want them to go home to their families at night don’t you.”)
Thank god no dogs around, the cop probably would have shot it for Littering.
You Will Respect Mah Authoritah!
About what it boils down to.
The police in the next town over (we have none in my town) can’t wait to give you a ticket for something. And you are not allowed to ask a question without being threatened with arrest...they are just plain nuts.
I have been pulled over and ticketed for going thru a yellow lite, having a “low tire” (needed air) and going thru an imaginary stop sign we have yet to find.
We will not go thru that town and we tell everyone we know so they won’t get a ticket.
They just lost a weekly, huge muscle/antique car show to another town.
Supposedly, the merchants didn’t like the traffic, but what they aren’t publicizing is that the cops would wait for the car show to end and then when people were leaving with their show cars, pull them over for loud mufflers, turning right on red without coming to a complete stop first, going thru yellow lights etc. Just ridiculous stuff. (but they never ever pull over Harleys for anything no matter how loud-why? cause they ride them!)
A lot of these people come from out of STATE to bring their show cars and it’s all for charity too. Some of the owners of these cars have been doing this for 20+years.
I just don’t get why cops are allowed to be like this; they are ruining a town that has done wonders to come back from closed up store fronts etc. It’s so sad.
I miss the great coffee shop with the Gadsen Flag flying from the roof (a lot of people don’t know it’s there and he’s Tea Party too I hear shhhh!) But between the cops and the loud Harleys (biker bar around the corner) I couldn’t take it anymore. Hard to relax when you don’t know if you’re going to be pulled over on the way home.
Just part of the 95% that give the other 5% a bad name.
Holy crap. I can’t believe that is a MA State trooper. I know my share and they are all quite fit. How did that fat slob get in and how does he keep his job? They have fitness requirements for heaven sake.
OK you somebitch, we don't cotton to no litterbugging in these here parts. Got that!
Everything about the MA government is corrupt and run by Democrats (but I repeat myself). Why do you think that the police would be any different from the rest of the MA government sewer.
Probably found one to shoot later.
I dunno, I agree with Bloody Sam Roberts on this one. MA Staties more nearly resemble Marines than they do the donut chomping townies. I have never seen a MA Statie who didn’t appear to be in very good physical condition.
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