This one goes too far.

[Hardbopjazz]

Strange News - AP

Woman Arrested, Cuffed for Eating Candy

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By CANDACE SMITH, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A government scientist finishing a candy bar on her way into a subway station where eating is prohibited was arrested, handcuffed and detained for three hours by transit police.

Stephanie Willett said she was eating a PayDay bar on an escalator descending into a station July 16 when an officer warned her to finish it before entering the station. Both Willett and police agree that she nodded and put the last bit into her mouth before throwing the wrapper into a trash can.

Willett, a 45-year-old Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) scientist, told radio station WTOP that the officer then followed her into the station, one of several in downtown Washington.

"Don't you have some other crimes you have to take care of?" Willett said she told the officer.

Washington has been under heightened security because of the continuing threat of terrorism. And last week, police declared a citywide crime emergency over rising juvenile crime.

The transit police officer asked for Willett's identification, but Willett kept walking. She said she was then frisked and handcuffed.

"If she had stopped eating, it would have been the end of it and if she had just stopped for the issuance of a citation, she never would have been locked up," Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson said Thursday.

Metrorail has been criticized in the past for heavy-handed enforcement of the eating ban. In 2000, a police officer handcuffed a 12-year-old girl for eating a french fry on a subway platform.

In 2002, one of their officers ticketed a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy patient for cursing when he was unable to find a working elevator to leave a station. Unflattering publicity eventually led the police to void the ticket.

Willett was the second person arrested this year for eating or drinking, Hanson said. In addition, police have issued 58 tickets and given more than 300 written warnings.

[Stefan Wood]

Hey, here in DC, you consume or drink in the subway system and they'll fine you. Mind you, I have never seen it happen in all my years here. But you get the looks from people if you do that. What they should be doing is busting all the people who get dressed and put on make up in the trains (both acts I have seen).

My boss was fined for drinking soda on the train once.

[JSngry]

Hope is on the way!

[rockefeller center]

Come dehydrate in DC.

[7/4]

[sheldonm]

There may have been an weapon in the Pay Day !

[RDK]

It's all Chaney's fault!

(It's gotta be, right?)

[couw]

catesta's fault more likely

[7/4]

catesta's fault more likely

that's what I thought.

[AmirBagachelles]

In the late seventies I saw Park Police scum write tickets for drinking soda, feet propped up on seats or poles, no warnings usually. Yep, lots of angry misfits in those police and paramilitary organizations, eager to dish some abuse. That's why they get called pigs.

[David Ayers]

So her offence was continuing to chew after she entered the station?

I wonder how the war on terror is going?

[BERIGAN]

In the late seventies I saw Park Police scum write tickets for drinking soda, feet propped up on seats or poles, no warnings usually. Yep, lots of angry misfits in those police and paramilitary organizations, eager to dish some abuse. That's why they get called pigs.

especially if the year is 1973....

[Man with the Golden Arm]

So her offence was continuing to chew after she entered the station?

I wonder how the war on terror is going?

Hence the reason one never ever sees beavers in the metro, or is that gnaw?

Too bad the DC police can't lock folks up for second degree lying or attempting to think.

[JSngry]

I wonder how the war on terror is going?

As this story reveals, not too well, at least internally...

[RainyDay]

Her crime was mouthing off to a cop. First amendment or not, if you want a personal experience with the ciminal justice system, mouth off to a cop.

Second, as a public transit commuter who is sick of wading through garbage in stations and on trains, I applaud anyone getting a ticket for eating or drinking in the paid area. I've watched whole families pile on a train with their greasy fast food and USE THE SEAT CUSHIONS FOR NAPKINS. I've watched well-heeled men in expensive business suits get on the train, slop their coffee all over the seats, and dump their newspapers on the floor for someone to slip and fall on.

I had to laugh when BART removed their garbage containers from the stations platforms as an anti-terrorist measure BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. People throw crap on the ground whether there is a container available or not.

I don't know about her transit system, but notices about not eating or drinking in the BART system are everywhere and unless you can't read English or are the Queen of England, you should take note and act accordingly. I have no sympathy for this woman.

As for terrorism, my biggest concern when I get on the train is not terrorism. It's whether or not I will get a seat, and whether or not there is a glob of candy bar stuck to the seat rendering it unusable.

[skeith]

Rainy Day,

I hear you man. Come on the NYC subways and platforms. Some are ridiculously filthy. And what I have observed people doing with their food and garbage-yuck. Yeah, what about my right not to be surrounded by foul smelling trash.

I notice the DC Metro is about 100 times cleaner and more pleasant than NYC - we could use a bit of that. I'll happily trade transit sytem rules with you DC residents who complain.

On the other hand, the handcuffs seem a bit over the top.

Edited July 30, 2004 by skeith

[Jazzmoose]

I think this particular arrest is a bit silly, but I can surely relate to Rainy Day's reaction. People these days are absolute pigs.

[RainyDay]

The handcuffs may seem over the top but look what she did. The cops tells her no eating so she stuffs the candy in her mouth. She then makes a snide comment to the cop. When he asks for ID, she walks away from him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If a cop pulls you over while driving, and asks for ID, and you drive off, you are in seriously deep shit. I'm not a gung-ho defender of police but I know enough to produce some ID if asked by a cop for ID and not to walk away after making a flip comment. She is not a victim, IMO. She acted like someone who thought she was appearing in a sitcom instead of real life.

Furthermore, in some cities, she would have been arrested. When a cop stops you and you choose not to cooperate, well, you pays your money and you takes your chances.

Edited July 30, 2004 by RainyDay

[Shrdlu]

"A hallmark of apostasy is excessive legalism."

The Lord said "Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne." (Luke 11:46)

Here's another real classic in the "the law is a ass" category. In England, in one town, they want to serve some sheep with an "anti-social behavior order" because they baa too much. Fining a sheep!

I hate littering, though, and am also appalled at the mess that people make. I'm not sure that it's the police that are the pigs.

[Jazzmoose]

Here's another real classic in the "the law is a ass" category. In England, in one town, they want to serve some sheep with an "anti-social behavior order" because they baa too much. Fining a sheep!

I'm sure the sheep responded with an appropriate "bah"...

[BruceH]

I hate littering and messiness too. What are you gonna do? I count it as a great day when I climb on the bus and DON'T find discarded newspapers all over the floor.