Leaf Blower Lands UP Resident in Jail

The author of the leaf-blower e-mail message wrote in today to explain her side of the story following our publication of a police report (scroll down to April 8 ) about her arrest for assaulting an officer. Gather your friends and family around folks. This is one wild ride:

You chose to publish my name in the police report for allegedly assaulting a police officer. In view of my ordeal on April 7th and 8th at the hands of our public servants, it’s imperative that I give my side of the story to your paper. In failing to mention that the UP police were called to investigate a noise complaint, your account misrepresents the case and presents only the more sensational aspects of the story.

On April 7th, my landscape crew installed the ornamental grasses in our front bed without resorting to any equipment but shovel, water hose, and broom (for clean-up). That afternoon, my neighbor’s landscapers arrived and, using heavy duty blowers, blasted refuse and detritus into my newly installed bed. The decibel level was well beyond the city noise ordinance level and the fumes of benzene and other smog inducing pollutants were overwhelming.

I was driven to distraction and despair, not understanding why there is so little consideration for the health and well-being of my family. Consequently, I called the UP police to complain over this violation of our city’s noise ordinance. I observed that the policeman did nothing but gently suggest to the workers that they might turn their volume down (which had no effect whatsoever as the officer quickly departed).

Later that evening, I wanted to send a message to all the neighbor’s who, on a daily basis, so flagrantly disrupt my peace of mind and serenity with their noisy landscaping. So at midnight, I let the strains of Carl Maria von Weber’s Invitation to the Dance pour forth from my balcony.

It wasn’t long before two officers arrived at my tenant’s door downstairs. She called and announced their presence. I told her to send them on up, thinking that I could explain just why I felt entitled to perpetrate the great crime of playing classical music at midnight.

Two officers of the law bounded up my stairway as if on a mission to arrest the greatest malefactor since Al Capone.

I asked officer Fortner why the neighborhood lawn crews were allowed to annoy residents and pedestrians with their polluting leaf blowers, whackers, and mowers and why playing classical music at midnight should warrant such a harsh reaction. Furthermore, I wondered why they gave a pass to those workers (frequently illegal) who blew leaves and topsoil into our gutters, therefore creating sewer problems.

Suddenly, Officer Fortner became extremely aggressive, claiming he was a full-blooded Indian. I tried to tell him that my son-in-law was one quarter Cherokee and proud of it but he began shouting that I was a racist. If any contact between the two of us occurred, I can assure you that it was inadvertent on my part as Officer Fortner was shouting and leaning into me.

He then handcuffed me saying that I was being arrested for assaulting a police officer. Meanwhile, my husband awoke and as he was leaving our bedroom, was accosted by Officer Tull who threatened him with a can of mace.

I was taken to the HP jail, booked on a third degree felony charge for assaulting a police officer.

I was finally released on after posting $1000 dollars in bail. Barefooted and without money or phone to reach anyone to give me a ride home I pondered my situation as I sat in front of the HP police station when I noticed a very handsome young black man sitting on the stoop with a garbage sack of his possessions. He told me that he was arrested for driving 18 miles and hour through a school zone and had his car impounded to the tune of $250. (I believe this ticket is called a DWB or driving while black through Highland Park). Anyhow after hearing my own tale, he said, ” I don’t know how you feel about wearing other people’s shoes, but here’s a pair.” He reached into his bag of personal possessions and pulled out orange flip flops which I was happy to have for my journey back home.