Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

December 13, 2011

Dallas resident Diane Irons was startled to see the police on her doorstep. She was puzzled when they asked her to step out onto her porch. Her bewilderment quickly mutated to fury when she was arrested for ?public intoxication,? and forced to spend six hours in jail.

The police had been sent to Mrs. Irons? home by a less-than-helpful neighbor, who called to report a domestic disturbance. Although Irons and her nephew had been arguing over living arrangements, neither of them had been drinking. In fact, she is a teetotaler. Nonetheless, an arresting officer falsely claimed that Irons? eyes were bloodshot and that she displayed slurred speech and other signs of drug use or alcohol intoxication.

Ben Irons, Diane?s adult son, tried to explain that his mother was a stroke victim who attends speech therapy. When Ben attempted to show the police his mother?s medical records, he, too, was arrested for the supposed offense of interfering with the police.

After being released from custody, Mrs. Irons received a personal visit and apology from Dallas Police Chief David Brown. The family has announced its intention to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit against the department, which will most likely end in yet another taxpayer-funded settlement.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.