This Is so Pathetic

**lizbud** · 09-19-2007, 05:09 PM

Have they solved all the other crimes & this is the only other problem
in the city of Orem, Utah? It's a crying shame they have nothing better
to do.

That poor lady.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/19/law....ap/index.html

**Catlady711** · 09-19-2007, 06:02 PM

While I do believe that it's ridiculous to arrest someone, take up jail space, and court time for failing to water a lawn, however we have to remember there are two sides to every story.

From what I gathered from just that article the woman refused to give information to the police when they asked, and apparently resisted the officer, both of which will tend to make cops very mad.

Also she'd had her water shut off for 9 months while still apparently living there, which could indicate she had financial problems or mental health problems and that may have been the only way for the family to help her be declared incompetent to help herself. I have seen that many times where older folks just can't take care of themselves but because most dr's won't put it in writing the family has their hands tied trying to get them some help against their will.

Either way I hope everything is resolved for the lady now, brown lawn or not.

Never take anything, even a news story (especially a news story) at face value now-a-days.

**Laura's Babies** · 09-19-2007, 07:43 PM

Lordy, you mean it is against the law to have your grass die?

**lizbud** · 09-20-2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Catlady711

From what I gathered from just that article the woman refused to give information to the police when they asked, and apparently resisted the officer, both of which will tend to make cops very mad.

Whooo, don't want to make the cops mad.

Since we are both putting our own spin on this & don't actually know this
lady (you don't do you?)

I think she has the right to decide how she
wants to spend her SS check. Perhaps she prefers bottled water to tap
water? Supposed she thinks it's wasteful to be watering her lawn when
she could use her money for food, rent, medicine or whatever?

There is abosolutely no reason to manhandle an elderly lady for such a
trivial offense when a ticket & infomation on the law would suffice.
Sounds like the Gestapo is alive & well in Orem, Utah.

**cassiesmom** · 09-20-2007, 12:00 PM

interesting that the attorney representing her is Gloria Allred - she must be doing it pro bono if the lady's water has been off for nine months.

**lady_zana** · 09-20-2007, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by cassiesmom

interesting that the attorney representing her is Gloria Allred - she must be doing it pro bono if the lady's water has been off for nine months.

She might be or she might be court-appointed. If the lady didn't have a lawyer, the courts would give her one so that she would have some representation.

**kuhio98** · 09-20-2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Catlady711

From what I gathered from just that article the woman refused to give information to the police when they asked, and apparently resisted the officer, both of which will tend to make cops very mad.

True. It may not be smart to anger the cops. BUT IT ISN'T AGAINST THE LAW.

**Catlady711** · 09-20-2007, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by kuhio98

True. It may not be smart to anger the cops. BUT IT ISN'T AGAINST THE LAW.

Actually resisting arrest IS against the law.

If the cop had a bonafide warrent, which the news article doesn't say one way or the other, then yes he would have been in his rights to restrain her to take her into custody. Although I'd find any judge questionable that would sign a warrent for the 'crime' of a brown lawn.

Again we have to remember that news articles rarely present all the facts of a case, they are usually slanted to gain sympathy for one side or the other, and frequently leave out details. Their entire goal is to sell papers, get hits on their website, and gain viewers for tv, not to present an entire case worth of a jury trial.

**Cincy'sMom** · 09-20-2007, 06:46 PM

Sure Glad I don't live in Utah! With the trouble we've had with getting our front lawn to grow, we'd have been jailed for sure!

**lizbud** · 09-20-2007, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Cincy'sMom

Sure Glad I don't live in Utah! With the trouble we've had with getting our frnt lawn to grow, we'd have been jailed for sure!

With the intense heat ,with no rain. in Indiana this summer, the city actually banned lawn watering on certain days to conserve.

Damned if you do and, I guess some, are damned if you don't.

**Cinder & Smoke** · 09-20-2007, 07:27 PM

Points to Remember >>>

Originally Posted by Catlady711

We have to remember that news articles rarely present all the facts of a case,
they are usually slanted to gain sympathy for one side or the other,
and frequently leave out details.

Their entire goal is to sell papers, get hits on their website, and gain viewers for TV,
not to present an entire case worth of a jury trial.

Golly!
Makes you *wonder* if what ya read in the paper and see on TV is
the really Straight Scoop!

And then there's the Internet ...