Ridiculous cops arrest old ladies for feeding cats

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

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bongsaway said:

What was the trial about if no crimes were committed? Asinine is putting it mildly.

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Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

Click to expand...

Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

Click to expand...

multivita-man said:

Hey look on the bright side: at least they weren't shot.

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Nickyjo said:

Might have been if they were feeding cats while black.

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multivita-man said:

Hey look on the bright side: at least they weren't shot.

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multivita-man said:

Hey look on the bright side: at least they weren't shot.

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Drowning Man said:

The judge convicted them!
They are currently appealing the decision. I bet you a $10 donation to the forum that the Institute For Justice takes up their case (at least in part). If they do, I'm going to give THEM a $100 donation.

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Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

Click to expand...

multivita-man said:

Considering black men get the police called for watching birds while black, I can't just laugh this off as a joke

Click to expand...

Hari Seldon said:

Alabama, what do you expect. Brave police force they have.

Click to expand...

Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

Click to expand...

Rumpel said:

And how is this case going on?
What happened in court?

Click to expand...

aociswundumho said:

A government-run court found both of them guilty, and the pigs probably received medals and bonuses for their bravery:

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Drowning Man said:

Opinion | Wetumpka cat ladies were convicted, but the city will pay the price​

​

Rest easy, Wetumpka, the cat ladies have been brought to justice.​

​

Mary Alston, 61, and 85-year-old Beverly Roberts – two hardened and desperate criminals – were convicted Wednesday in Wetumpka municipal court by Judge Jeff Courtney, who found the pair guilty on four charges of trespassing, interfering with governmental operations and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.​

​

They were feeding and trapping feral cats.​

​

The shocking crimes, which rocked the small Elmore County town and stoked fear in the hearts of the good, Christian folk who call Wetumpka home, were first discovered by Wetumpka Police … you know what, I just can’t keep going with this.​

​

Because this is dumb.​

​

All of it. The arrest. The trial. The bullying of two elderly ladies who were actually solving the problem that the city seemed to be complaining about.​

​

It’s so utterly absurd. And to be quite honest, it reeks of small town politics. It smells suspiciously like some thin-skinned city official got peeved because some ladies had the gall to question him, and he decided to flex a little muscle, show those little gals where the power lies.​

​

And, lo and behold, in court on Tuesday, one major line of questioning revolved around whether Mayor Jerry Willis had told Wetumpka PD to arrest one of the cat ladies, because she had been continuously critical of the city’s animal control policies and practices. Willis, under oath, denied ordering her arrest. Testimony from a lieutenant from Wetumpka PD sure seemed to indicate that some sort of directive had come from the mayor’s office.​

​

Regardless, bodycam footage of the cops’ interactions with Roberts and Alston show an impressive response – three cop cars and four officers – to a call about a lady possibly feeding cats. On a roadside. With no businesses nearby. Near a wooded area. With plenty of space off to the side so traffic wasn’t impeded. On public property.​

​

And that last thing there – that part about public property – that’s the real rub here.​

​

Because, see, in this country, you’re entitled to be on public property, because, as a tax-paying citizen, you are technically part owner of that property. The only way you can be removed or barred from that property is if you are committing a crime.​

​

Feeding feral cats is not a crime in Wetumpka.​

​

It doesn’t matter if it should be a crime, or if feeding the cats might cause a nuisance. Nothing really matters until you put it in writing and put a law on the books.​

​

Lots of annoying things happen on public property every day. But you don’t get to arrest all of the annoying people for doing annoying things, because that’s not how law works.​

Crap like this leaves me speechless.

Click to expand...

SenorXm/Sirius said:

We've been feeding outdoor, homeless cats here for years... I hope I don't get arrested..

To be fair though, we feed them on our front porch and backyard...

We feed the birds too.. I worry about that now... Lol

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Mighty Jungle said:

This isn't as crazy as it sounds. Each municipality has laws the residents must abide by.

At the end of the day, grocery stores and restaurants are REQUIRED to throw out food and leftovers. It is illegal to feed the homeless because of our litigious society. If someone should get sick or die, the business can be sued.

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Mighty Jungle said:

This is the same issue with feral/homeless animals. If someone fed what they believed to be a stray, and the owner showed up to find a sick or dead pet, it opens up a liability.

There have been instances of people feeding strays poisons just because they're evil.

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Mighty Jungle said:

Further, feeding animals will invite more animals when their friends tell them where the good stash is. LOL

Finally, some nosy busybody probably patted herself on the back as she clutched her pearls to report it. /smdh

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