Police officers in Florida within the United States got here beneath extreme criticism after a lady claimed that she was arrested and handcuffed for giving some cash to a roadside flower vendor.
The lady, Annika Olson, was reportedly driving down the street when she noticed the seller promoting flowers. She pulled over and gave him some cash. At this level, police officers arrived on the scene and arrested her, the girl claimed.
A video of the incident that occurred on August 16 has gone viral on social media, by which Olson might be heard saying, “I was just trying to give her $20.”
The video sparked outrage and disbelief. Many individuals questioned why the girl was arrested for such a seemingly innocuous act. Some opined that the police have been overly enthusiastic of their response.
In a clarification issued later, the Florida police stated they arrived on the scene to arrest a Nicaraguan nationwide who was promoting flowers in a “prohibited area,” and Olson interfered with the police operation, they added.
The officers acknowledged that they requested Olson to proceed along with her car to keep away from a “safety hazard for other motorists.” However, Olson refused to maneuver and confronted the officers, after which she was charged with “interfering with the police investigation.”
The police additionally talked about that the flower vendor, recognized as Norma Garcia, was violating guidelines by promoting flowers “from the median or in the roadway.”
However, Olson stated she was unaware that the police have been arresting the flower vendor when she supplied the cash. She was launched later and is scheduled to look in court docket on September 6.
Published On:
Aug 23, 2023