Police 'waste' $10,000 on apple core case

SWINTON, England, July 2 (UPI) -- A British man arrested for allegedly dropping an apple core said police wasted nearly $10,000 investigating him before dismissing a littering charge.

Keith Hirst, 54, a former plumber with heart problems, was taken into police custody April 21, after an officer accused him of letting an apple core fall to the ground, the Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Police took a DNA sample from Hirst, got his fingerprints and jailed him for 18 hours, the newspaper said.

Hirst received medical attention twice while being held because he said he was experiencing chest pain and dizziness.

Hirst was scheduled to go to court in coming days, but officials said charges of littering and obstructing a police officer against him have been dismissed.

Officials are believed to have spent about $10,000 on police labor and other preparatory efforts in Hirst's case, the newspaper said.

Hirst said he thinks the "whole thing has been a complete waste of money."