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Good Samaritan pleads not guilty to charges stemming from mowing city park

The man who was arrested after mowing Central Park’s grass isn’t going down without a fight.

John Hamilton, 48, pleaded not guilty Friday in Sandusky Municipal Court to misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business and persistent disorderly conduct.

If found guilty, Hamilton could face up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines.

Hamilton was arrested 8:30 a.m. Thursday as he mowed the foot-high grass at the park. Police arrested him after he continued to mow when they asked him to stop.

He said he’s looking for an attorney for his next court hearing, slated for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3.

“I could have pled guilty and it all would go away with a fine,” Hamilton said. “But they didn’t even know what to charge me for, so (the charges were) kind of a catch-all.”

The next step will be handled by prosecutors, city prosecutor and assistant law director Lynne Gast-King said.

“This is a very trying time for the city,” she said. “We’re all doing the best we can right now in a very difficult position. We’ll handle it just like any other case with a not guilty and charges pending." Read More

The Citizen Police State

While the threats to our liberties from our own government may be great, many don’t realize that the greatest threats to our freedoms may be soon coming from our own neighbors and friends. While reporting neighbors to city officials for unsightly lawns and shoddy house maintenance has become accepted and common place, the precedent is dangerous.

In the great dystopia novel, 1984, George Orwell describes a police state regime which uses friends, neighbors, and even children to spy and report to “Big Brother” about their neighbor’s movements and ’suspicious’ activities. This citizen spy network terrorizes the populace of 1984 to keep in line with the established order.

It seems that lately the governments of the west have taken a cue from George Orwell and are beginning to encourage more active citizen spying. The reasons for this shift are likely many. One reason may be that it makes government seem less culpable while at the same time greatly increasing their effective spying network. Unfortunately, the resultant loss of freedom will be a lot worse than any illusion of security, especially if citizens come to think that reporting fellow citizens is an admirable thing.

Entire article with references.

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