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Stupid Arrest of the Week

By TChris, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Wed May 25, 2005 at 09:11:56 AM EST
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by TChris

Police in Charlotte, North Carolina arrested an 86 year old woman for calling 911 to complain that a pizza restaurant refused to deliver pizza to her apartment. Granted, she called 20 times, but that fact suggests that she suffers from the mental infirmities of aging, not that she intended to harass a 911 dispatcher. Arresting her was a ridiculous waste of public resources.

Update: The 86 year old woman (authorities have been careful not to refer to her as a terrorist) made bond.

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    Stupid Arrest of the Week | 39 comments (39 topical)
    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:52:56 PM EST
    Police-North Carolina-Stupid... How many redundancies are you going to string together, TL? The law be what cops in the South say it be...and that be it...boy...

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#2)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Some mental health help might be a good idea, but arresting her? She also "attacked" the cop. All 98 lbs of her. I am sure that the cop must have been really scared

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#3)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Mugshot, anyone?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    She's a menace...throw her in with the Runaway Bride... Any wonder cops are fighting an uphill PR battle every day of the week?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    She could have insisted on her one allowable phone call after her arrest and then ordered another pizza.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#6)
    by SeeEmDee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Meanwhile, in another part of town, someone is being murdered, another is being raped, a child is being molested, a hold-up by an ATM is occuring. But the police go after...looney old ladies. The officer should have just told her to lay off calling the pizza place, or face her phone being disconnected. And maybe ask where her relatives are; someone acting that off-the-wall probably hasn't been taking her meds for a while and needs supervision.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#7)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    “Meanwhile, in another part of town, someone is being murdered, another is being raped, a child is being molested, a hold-up by an ATM is occuring.” And the emergency phones lines are clogged by some old bat pi$$ed about her pizza. She called and called wanting the police to arrest the kid who wouldn’t deliver her a single slice of pizza, and when the cops finally showed up to her house to resolve the mess she allegedly attacked them, biting and scratching. “ … or face her phone being disconnected.” Look, I don’t think the police have the power to disconnect telephone lines. Isn’t this what happens to crazy folks that break the law; they get arrested and eventually committed for evaluation? Where do you think she is now, a jail cell or a hospital bed?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#8)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Classic example of, "The cops can't win." Expecially here. Could this have gone differently? Certainly could have, but who commenting on this thread was there? Roger, Maybe mental health services will help, but IIRC gov't services really don't help people with organic disorders (I believe they call them that) such as dementia. Besides, cops are not mental health workers, nor counselors for disfunctional families. Meanwhile across town all those other crimes were still being committed while the one or two officers were dealing with this woman anyway, so why is it their fault again?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Piggle- The article says she was "jailed" not "hospitalized" and it doesn't say she was released...do you know something we don't? The old bird should have been taken to the emergency room in a hospital and examined... Anyone who's applauding the cops on this is really, really scary...

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:18 PM EST
    Why is it the left is soooo quick to critisize the police ... military .. etc..etc? This old bat should be arrested. She attacked a police officer. Or do we let certain people get away with that behavior?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#11)
    by aw on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    The cops could have just brought her a slice of pizza. Wouldn't that have been easier than arresting her?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    It's good to see that you're at least consistent with your views, as evidenced in the Runaway Bride thread... But the old bat's actions should tell anyone who's got their brain turned on that she's not a criminal but rather an extremely aged person most likely suffering from senile dementia...yes, she should have been arrested- for her own safety. To jail her is ludicrous and something you'll only see in the South...guaranteed...

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#13)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    BB's very selective moral certitude is in fine form.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    Why is it the left is soooo quick to critisize the police ... military .. etc..etc?
    One could also ask "Why is the right so quick to believe these institutions can do no wrong, in spite of massive evidence to the contrary?"

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#15)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    “Piggle- The article says she was "jailed" not "hospitalized" and it doesn't say she was released...do you know something we don't?” Perhaps, my father (and likely Patrick) frequently deals with folks like this. First they are arrested and then taken to the hospital. That is why I asked, “Where do you think she is now, a jail cell or a hospital bed?” Come on folks, a little common sense will go a long way.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    Well, a little common sense would have gone a long way in the South long ago, Piggle...and Blagh was asking not out of sarcasm but because he didn't know the answer...and you're probably right...but charging her? With what? Being demented and having access to a phone? Where the hell is her family? Shame on them...

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#17)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:19 PM EST
    Piggle, She is almost certainly NOT in a hospital bed, the gov't (at least in Fla) doesnt pay for many of these anymore. I bet $5 that she is in a cell Patrick- Down here, we have very few officers trained to deal with mental illness, and they are not the ones neccessarily sent on these calls. A little more training in this area, less in firearms (they seem to have FA traing monthly) would help a lot.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#18)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:20 PM EST
    one would hope that the cops would take her to he hospital just as a cya move. A 90 pound, 5 foot, 86 year old woman who calls 911 to complain about a pizza delivery and struggles w/ cops is prima facie evidence that she needs help. Then if the tests turn out negative you've covered the bases. As it is the city and cops are jack booted laughing stocks. BTW patrick, I was hospitalized the other night after hitting a cop. Before you start cheering, I was in a vehicle and hit the cop car while he was speeding thru alleys. I can't wait to go to court because he claimed I 'sped up to hit him', even tho the forensics prove him a liar. He also refused to call an ambulance for me, until finally the responding officer did so. Nice people you associate with.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#19)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:20 PM EST
    Oh and BB, that remark about 'old bat?' Age, if we're lucky, happens to all of us. I can't believe that you don't have a parent, grandparent or other relative that isn't a bit dotty. You really disgrace yourself with such a comment.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#20)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:20 PM EST
    After about the 10th or 12th call they obviously knew they had an abnormal situation. They just had no imagination (see aw - brilliant solution)in solving the problem. After decades of use, you would think that the EMS system could hanldle these situations a bit more professionally. Think outside the box folks.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:20 PM EST
    If I worked at the pizza joint and got the call from this woman, I would have made an exception and delivered her a slice as my good deed for the day. Is there no "meals on wheels" in the Carolinas? Is that just a blue state thing? When my grandfather was ill at the end, he got a hot meal delivered everyday by that fine organization. It seems a lot more compassion could have been shown by all parties involved. Anyone who agrees with locking her up has some serious compassion issues.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#22)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:20 PM EST
    Roger,
    Patrick- Down here, we have very few officers trained to deal with mental illness, and they are not the ones neccessarily sent on these calls. A little more training in this area, less in firearms (they seem to have FA traing monthly) would help a lot.
    Less in firearms? No, I disagree completely. Sailor, Sorry you were hurt, but you have foresnic analysis already? Just since the "Other night?" That's unbelievably fast where I come from. Please link to a news article which reports this story, otherwise it sounds kinda fishy. If he really claimed you sped up to hit him, were you arrested? Seems that would be a crime no?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#23)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    Stay on him Patrick! He'll change his story sooner or later. Try the old Mess-with-me-I'll-make-your-life-hell approach.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#24)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    “Think outside the box folks.” My wife was an EMT for a number of years. When they had a mentally ill patient who was combative guess who they called. So what is your suggestion? Should we train EMT to physically subdue combative patients, or only those they can physically overpower like weak old folks? Physical force is often needed when dealing with mentally ill. It seems perfectly reasonable to use the police as they are trained and experienced in the use force, and schooled in what is excessive force. “Try the old Mess-with-me-I'll-make-your-life-hell approach.” Your hostile attitude to a reasonable question betrays your prejudice toward cops. I understand you may, or perhaps your friends as well, have had bad experiences with the police. Yeah, me too. I was served with a warrant to testify in a murder trial. The serving officer became very aggressive and agitated trying to search my home, lying about the odor of pot. The situation degraded so quickly I thought it would turn violent. Luckily it didn’t. When I was a young hair farmer in a hick town I got the business nightly; speeding tickets for not speeding, etc. But guess what, I don’t judge one entire group of people on my limited experience with a few. Here in Salt Lake my only experience with Tongan immigrants is the nightly news reports about gang violence and drive by shootings. Also, one of my close friends and a group of his friends were assaulted so violently by a Tongan gang (using fists and rocks) one needed multiple surgeries to reconstruct his face. Were I to extend your less than open attitude about the police to the local Tongan’s I would rightly be labeled prejudice and a bigot.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#25)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    Patrick, I'll admit that the gun training comment was a flip response, but do you disagree that more training in how to deal with a "signal 20" would be a bad thing? When I was a public defender, many of my clients were mentally ill. One guy stole the kit bag from the front of a police bicycle that was leaned up against the window of a restaurant while the cop was inside eating. The guy then danced around with the bag, in front of the cop, and set it back down in front of the bike. He felt safe doing this, because he was "invisible". The cop took him to jail and had him charged, mainly because he didnt know what else to do. He was unaware of the mental health options available. Dont you think that the cop could hjave benefitted from knowing about all of his options?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#26)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    patrick - yes forensics as measured and photographed by the state police and released in the accident report 48 hours later prove that he failed to yield right of way and they wrote him up for it. As for a link to the fire and ambulance runs in my area, I have no intention of ever letting you know who or where I am. the fact that you advocted me being arrested for his crime is reason enough. just 'cause a cop says so don't make it so. My apologies to all for the OT reply. Now back to our regularly scheduled channel: Since mental health budgets are being scuttled and given to the cops then the cops should be trained better how to handle these situations.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#27)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    Sailor, Then it's just your word this happened. Fine, I just find it hard to believe a cop is accusing you of deliberately crashing your vehicle into his and then not charging you. Even if he's lying, that does not make sense.
    the fact that you advocted me being arrested for his crime is reason enough.
    I don't believe I ever did that. God you people read into comments. I'm glad I don't see the devil everywhere like some here. I asked if you were arrested because the claim you're saying the officer made would have amounted to a crime, right? I mean you can't just drive around the streets of your little burg intentionally ramming people can you? Sometimes two people can view the same event and have very different versions, perhaps that's what happening here.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#28)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    Pigwiggle, Google coerced confessions and get back to me.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#29)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    Patrick, The update links to an article that states that last year the same cop arrested this lady for calling 911 repeatedly. At that time this lady attacked, and bit him. Question is (and I am still waiting for you to answer my last question)--shouldnt he have at least brought back up this time? Also- he must have known that she suffered from a mental defect. Couldnt (shouldnt) he have brought her to the local mental hospital instead of the jail?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#30)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    I just find it hard to believe a cop is accusing you of deliberately crashing your vehicle into his and then not charging you. Yes normally for that they will shoot you.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#31)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:21 PM EST
    che -"Yes normally for that they will shoot you." Nah, I'm white. The cop was from out of town and couldn't convince the state cops who responded to arrest me while I was being hauled away on a back board to the ambulance.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#32)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    “Pigwiggle, Google coerced confessions and get back to me.” I see you missed my point.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#33)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Sailor, Well cheap shots (Pun intended)aside, I made the error of assuming the cop was on-duty in a marked car at the time of your crash. How do you know the other driver was a cop and not some semi-wannabe-badge carrying security guard? Roger, Same cop, same lady, same cicumstances? Did he need backup or just a perspective change. I'm hesitant to criticize him/her for many reasons that you all have heard time and time again. I think I said in the beginning of this thread that it more than likely could have gone differently.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    While we're all taking our shots at the men in blue, Blagh feels the need to say something about our lawmen... Thank God for them, mainly... The Metro Toronto Sex Crimes Unit, who recently broke the case of the Russian girl being sexually exploited on videotape in a Disney resort room in Orlando years ago, have just assisted Spanish authorities in arresting five men in a child-porn ring... They tracked down little items in the pictures such as a Spanish subway ticket common to only five villages in the country... These men from the Metro T.O. SCU respect NO international borders...if they can view your garbage on a computer in Toronto, they're coming for you, wherever you are in the world... To the T-dot's men in blue, especially the SCU, WE'RE ALL BEHIND YOU!!!

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#35)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Sorry again gang for the OT - patrick, he was off duty in a marked crown vic complete w/ visibars. I apologise for assuming you advocated my arrest, your message did not say that. I was informed today by my attorney that the cops hung out at the hospital until the doc showed them my x-rays and said my hip was dislocated because I was stomping on the brake so hard during the collision. On topic again: At least the judge ordered a psych eval for her after 2 days in jail. Now if he would just do so for the cop involved.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Who spent two days in jail...the old biddie? How do you spell T-R-A-V-E-S-T-Y?

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    In my own limited dealings with the police here in Charlotte, I've never had any problems with them. I can understand why they did what they did in this case, even though it might have seemed a bit off the wall. The woman was tying up 911 resources that could have been going toward helping other folks in real need and, out of frustration, she attacked a uniformed officer. Granted, she had had a run-in with the same officer, but what if that had been someone else on the beat that night? What would he or she have done? This might have turned out far worse; a more aggresive officer might have used far more force than necessary to neutralize the situation.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#38)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Claxton, Maybe a less agreessive, or better trained, officer could have handled it better. We do ask a lot from our police officers, and we should. Nothing better than a good cop, nothing worse than a bad one.

    Re: Stupid Arrest of the Week (none / 0) (#39)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Roger, Kinda like spouses.

    Stupid Arrest of the Week | 39 comments (39 topical)