Police officer fired over toddler pee fine

PIEDMONT, Okla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Officials in an Oklahoma city said they fired a police officer who wrote a $2,500 ticket to the mother of a 3-year-old who urinated in the family's front yard.

Piedmont City Manager Jim Crosby said Tuesday Officer Ken Qualls was fired Friday after a Nov. 14 hearing about the $2,500 public urination ticket he issued Nov. 4 to Ashley Warden after her 3-year-old son, Dillon, dropped his pants and urinated in his family's front yard, The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman reported Wednesday.

Police Chief Alex Oblein said the charge was amended to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, but the Canadian County district attorney's office declined to pursue a case against Warden.

Oblein said the ticket was not appropriate for the situation.

Crosby said Qualls is planning to appeal the decision before a Piedmont personnel board.

A lawyer for Qualls did not return calls for comment, The Oklahoman said.