A brush with the law

Well, I've gone and done it now. I was digging plants at a place today and what happens? The police show up. Not one car, but two. Now, let me just say, that I never dig anywhere without getting permission first (except once, but that's another story). :)

I HAD permission to dig "anything I wanted" from 4 houses that were given to Habitat for Humanity by a company that bought the land to put up businesses. As my new garden buddy, Jerri, and I were digging, someone in a pickup truck pulls up, gets out her cell phone and sits there with the truck running. I finally went up to her and asked if she needed anything and she launched into a "you're trespassing" discussion.

In the end, after the police showed up, we figured out that the guy who gave me permission to dig didn't realize that Habitat for Humanity turned around and sold the houses to someone else (this lady). She has had problems with vandalism and didn't want us digging or it would make things worse for her.

We left and promised not to dig until the houses are gone, but honestly, we could still dig there and be "in the right". She doesn't own the land and we were given permission to dig on the land. But, out of respect for her and the trouble she is having with folks stealing from her and stripping the houses bare, we agreed to stay away until the houses are gone.

The interesting part of this, though, is that the police were just notified TODAY that anyone found on the property is to be arrested. If this lady hadn't been there and the police showed up, we'd be in jail right now - and - the guy who gave us permission wouldn't be at work for the weekend. Can you imagine? Me? Arrested? Puhllleeease.

Oh, and my husband says if I'm put in jail because of my silly plants, he is going to expect you all to bail me out. :)

Carla, if I had to go to jail I can't think of anyone I'd rather have for a cell mate! :) What an adventure!
At least DH thought it was pretty funny - after the initial shock! ;)

Jerri

And I'm still picking burrs out of my hair! :(

I thought I saw your picture hanging on the post office wall today...

O Carla!! What a day you must have had! That would have been pretty scarey though when the cops showed up.

LOL at your Dh...you know we would start collecting the money and have you both out in no time!

What an adventure! I would lay low for a long time after that one. giggle The cops will know you now as the lady who "steals" plants. LOLOLOL

Oh, I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall. Sorry you had to go through all that today, but man, what a story!

OOOOOO Carla, you could have been in BIG trouble!!! lol I can just see your DH's commander wondering why he had to bail out his wife.......

The story is funny though. lol

See ya soon, if your not in the "pokey"......hahahaha


Donna

Sisters in crime, LOL! Boy, between you guys and my brush with Meijer security while taking pictures...We're a bunch of hoodlums.

Carla, did you get any plants before she ran you off? She didn't sound like much of a gardener.

Maybe we should start a fund just in case, this could happen to anyone. LOL

I heard sirens today but I didn't realize they were after you.

LOL! If you could have gotten rid of the lady that was all mad, you might have had a chance of convincing the cops that you really weren't doing anything wrong.

This reminds me of a few years ago when I was surfing the internet reading about dumpster diving. Yep, you guessed it, I soon had DH (County Sheriff) out there in the middle of the night with me. We had a ball for about 2 years, then got sidetracked with other things.

I'm wondering too, if you managed to get any plants before you got run off?

How scarey. But did you get any plants? Sound's like JESUS was there with you two today. I'll bet the FATHER gets a good laugh out of some of HIS children when we get into scrapes like this.

Carla, my housemate got arrested and jailed for several hours once in a similar situation, and it was NOT fun!

A friend told us we could have the copper cupola from his roof when he took it down. Well, later it came down, and we took it in her garden truck. 3 Hours later the police showed up and arrested my friend. Turns out the cupola owner also promised it to someone else, who knew Gail's name and swore out a Theft Warrant with the police. What a mess!!!

smiln32, What an experience, I know I would have been scared to death, don't care to deal with the law any way, any whoo, any time! Glad everything worked out for you because I think the law gets their kicks sometimes from really idiotic stuff and they say they're there to serve the community, LOL! Denise

Carla honey, I think you'd look wonderful in stripes! LOL

I figured you'd all have a laugh at this. I didn't expect quite so many "smartie" comments...like SIRENS, STRIPES, and POKEY. Gee whiz guys... I didn't steal anything! As a matter of fact, and Jerri will attest to this, I pointed out numerous times to this lady (well, and the police officers) that she didn't own the land. We were given permission by the company that owns the land to dig whatever we wanted.

As for what we got, though.....mmmmmmm....tons of cannas, irises, daylilies, bulbs, liriope and even a hardy hibiscus. Oh, and a 25 foot walkway with the most gorgeous flagstone. Nearly killed us to get it into Jerri's truck, though. Those things weigh a ton. She has a bunch, too.

Any of you that are going to round up..Carla is bunking in with me...but never fear...I am going to enroll her in Plants Annomouse. (do you think we should post a guard aroud the plant swap??) LOL Carla...so funny. Jo

Will at least you got a lot before you were sent on your way, just think when the houses are moved you can go again.

Well, the lady finally came 'round. She took my name and phone number and will call me when the houses are moved. We can go back and dig more, then. :)

Jo, no need to post a guard. I maintain that I must get permission BEFORE I scavenge anything. :)

Yardbird, I'm looking forward to that. It's good we have a rest , I'm so sore it will take me that long to heal up. We worked ourselves silly! :) But boy it was fun!

Jerri -> Partner in 'crime' ;)

It sounds like you had a wonderful haul and that you are going to get the rest of whatever you want from there soon. That's wonderful!!!! Have fun.

Carla I wonder if anyone will have you a striped shirt and pants when you get to Ky. I said that wrong. It should be I wonder who will have you striped shirt and pants when you get to Ky. Well we all would still love you even with those prison clothes. Jim

Will we see you on Cops?

sings - bad boy bad boy whatcha gonna do? whatcha gonna do when the cops come for you?

Funny thing at lunch yesterday John Walsh showed us a picture matching your description.

I think his exact words were it's only a matter of time till she is in custody she will garden in the big house soon.

You may also find it of interest he says you were given up by someone he got immunity for.

Well Jim you took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to make a comment about the black and white striped clothes.

Good one, Eweed! I saw a movie a while back about a prison in England where some prisoners took up gardening and ended up at Chelsea! (I think it was Chelsea....) It was supposedly based on a true story and I really enjoyed it. Wish I could remember the name of it. Somebody ought to make a movie of the folks at DG!

This message was edited Sep 22, 2003 9:04 PM

I'm glad you all are enjoying this at my expense. :)

Just think, Smiln32, you could be a star in the movies! (You are already our hero (ine). :^)

Awww It could have been much worse and you could have really HAD an expense. Bail can be EXPENSIVE! giggle

Truly glad you didn't have to go that far though.

I always thought that the doors of the cells went "clink" when they shut behind the prisoner. Maybe a more accurate name would be the "clang".

The prisoners were at Chelsea this year and won a gold

Oh Boy, This is a great story.....when are you going back..maybe someone can call the cops again...huh... ROFLMAO

That is great to hear, Mark. I remembered the name of the movie -'Greenfingers'. Appropriate, huh?

I saw that movie and loved it. If you want to see a good movie about gardening, rent this movie!!!

Donna

Oh, going to imdb.com and adding "Greenfingers" to my must-see list!

* FYI -imdb.com is the Internet Movie Database. If you don't have it bookmarked already, be sure to! :) Here's the listing for Greenfingers: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0203540/

This message was edited Sep 22, 2003 3:25 PM

Oh Smiln were not laughing at you but with you my dear *giggle*

Oh, I understand. It is funny. It was funny at the time and now (that we aren't in jail), it's even more funny. This story will haunt me for years.

At least you won't be haunted by the tin cups running up and down the bars in the jailhouse. giggle

Lani,

You're giggling WAY too much now. :)