"What happened to me is pretty absurd," Unger said. "I'm hoping the judge issues a reprimand to the people who did this to me." Nearly every day, the 68-year-old retiree dons selections from his brightly coloured wardrobe, ties a bandana around his clean-shaven head, throws on the ear buds, plugs into his smart phone packed with tunes, and heads outdoors. He walks and dances up to 10 miles, sometimes bouncing a rubber ball as he "glides" along streets, avenues and lanes.
YouTube link.
Children from the local junior high say hello, and passers-by in cars wave. But in late August, Unger's dancing hit a sour note. His improvised moves attracted the attention of Cottonwood Heights police, who said he was blocking traffic. A police officer was dispatched, said she observed him for a time, and then later approached with two others officers. Unger said they asked for his identification, which he initially declined to provide. He was cuffed and given a citation, charging him with disorderly conduct, failure to identify himself, and interference with an arresting officer.
"Everything I did was cooperative," Unger said. "A 160 pound, 68-year-old man is going to fight with three police officers?" Cottonwood Heights police chief Robbie Russo was in the courtroom on Wednesday and said his officers acted appropriately dealing with Unger and said there are two sides to the story of his charges. Unger said he is not "as angry as a lot of people are about it." Still, he maintained there's a "need to underline accountability for police officers." Before court, Unger said expected the case to be dismissed, adding, "If it's not dismissed, I'll ask for a jury trial."
There's a news video here.
4 comments:
Seems a weird chap but pleasantly harmless; if he was causing a sufficient distraction to traffic that he needed moved on that's one thing, but to arrest him.. well, I hope the cops get a bee in their ear from the judge.
Also, I hope I'm that agile when I'm pushing 70.
For pity's sake...let the man be himself. I guess people can't comprehend somebody being happy.
If he was blocking traffic, just ask him to move. There's no need to harass the buy. And for frig's sake, why did they need three cops to talk to him?
So, a female cop watches him and unable to do her job efficiently she has to ask two other cops to approach an old man. Why is she even a cop if she can't do the job of one man, that she has to have someone there to help her. And picking on an old man after everything that has been happening to the police lately? Stop for a moment and ask yourself "why does someone become a cop". I appreciate the idea of having police officers, but it seems to me the wrong people are being chosen for the job. Something needs to be done with the people doing the hiring.
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