Man arrested for bench sitting after dark

Published: March. 19, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Order reprints
ORLANDO, Fla., March 19 (UPI) -- An Orlando, Fla., man says he spent nine days incarcerated after he was arrested for sitting on a park bench after dark.

William Alfred, 65, who lives one block away from the park, was arrested by police who said they were enforcing a zero tolerance policy for rules designed to keep the homeless from sleeping at Z.L. Riley Park, WFTV, Orlando, reported Wednesday.

The jail said Alfred was eligible for pre-trial release shortly after his arrest, but he refused. The suspect said he does not remember being offered release until days later.

Alfred is due back in court in April. He said he hopes the judge dismisses the case.

"I hope they forget about it. I'm caught up in this whole mess no more," he said.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Motorist saves 6 in rooming house fire (8 min)
Study says heat gels, sprays, unproven (11 min)
Clippers sign No. 1 pick Blake Griffin (14 min)
Lynch vetoes medical marijuana legislation (15 min)
UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (27 min)
NYPD battle 'Superman' in Times Square (32 min)
Police seize barking dog (33 min)
fark
Sign for small Canadian town is hilariously vandalized to advertise certain illicit activity. City...
German zoo admits that, in hindsight, it may have been a mistake to name one of its monkeys "Obama"...
Photoshop theme: Bad franchise ideas
Morgan Freeman plans to marry his step-granddaughter
Newspaper in trouble because they printed in a headline Marion Barry's ex-girlfriend saying : "You...
Problem: French newspaper wants to appeal to readers in the US but can't afford English speaking...