Deseret News | 'Lawn' officer is cleared in Orem

Reader comments
'Lawn' officer is cleared in Orem

Oremite | 8:17 a.m. Aug. 21, 2007

Hey, my neighbor has weeds in his yard, and I want him busted up good. Please send Flygare over. Thanks.

Mike | 8:30 a.m. Aug. 21, 2007

"Officer (Jim) Flygare did not commit the offense of assault during the arrest of Ms. (Betty) Perry. His actions were necessary to gain physical control of Ms. Perry and to prevent escalation of the incident," according to the report released by Utah DPS.

He could have walked away!!! Come off it. Arrest someone for not watering their lawn??? Why not walk away and come back with someone else that can talk to her. This was uncalled for!!

Troy | 8:58 a.m. Aug. 21, 2007

We read in papers how short-handed law enforcement has become in combating serious crime, yet Orem dedicates a full-time officer to pursue brown lawn perpetrators, and Washington Terrace tickets residents who have a over abundent supply of dandelions. To Serve and Protect? What's next?

Comments continue below

robynn | 3:16 p.m. Aug. 21, 2007

my jaw dropped when i read this article in the deseret news (i live in oregon). i am sick and saddened to think that "law" officers are allowed AND excused to act this way on behalf of tax paying citizens. what was he thinking? is this the way we get our communities to come together in cooperation for the good of all? i think i'm glad i moved away from utah.

Bret Davis | 4:05 p.m. Aug. 21, 2007

I hope they don't beat me up becuse the Japaness Beteels are killing my lawn. That officer should be ashamed of himself. And by the way. What about tress that are a real threat to homes and people. Orem City told me that tress can grow as tall as the onwer wants. I have never seen a dead lawn kill someone. Again Officer yiu should ae ashamed of yourself.

Kingfish | 6:11 p.m. Aug. 21, 2007

Does anyone know how to write and spell around here??

Frank in SLZ CA | 12:20 p.m. Aug. 22, 2007

Thanks to the Orem PD and the posters re this hilarious, but sad, uncalled for incident.

One ? is enough Kingfish. Two ?'s is indicative of poor grammar.

Anonymous | 9:05 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

You can't simply walk away from an officer when he's doing his job, why didn't she just give her name and tell him she'd work on the lawn?

TinaE | 11:49 a.m. Aug. 23, 2007

This is the most ridiculous waste of taxpayers money I've ever seen. Even if the woman was walking away, the cop had no right to lay a finger on her. She was on her private property, and not causing any immediate harm to anyone. He could have found out her name from a records check, and sent her a citation. I feel the cop was high on an inflated sense of power, is poorly trained, a fool or a combination of all three factors.
It's shameful that an elderly woman should have been injured for such a minor matter. The only escalation that happened here was an escalation of stupidity.

JillyBean2024 | 2:56 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Funny, that with water shortages and conservation programs in place in this country that we would require people to water their lawns, especially when they are paying for the water just to keep the grass green.

Eduardo Molinillo | 3:19 p.m. Aug. 23, 2007

Next on the horizon: Citizen beaten unconscious for not BRUSHING HIS TEETH...Big Brother wants everyone to be Healthy, OR ELSE!

citizen | 3:19 a.m. Feb. 16, 2008

Heres some insight on the city of orem. I know of a person who was given a citation in the city of orem for having their stereo up too loud in the afternoon on a weekday. No warning given but a citation. I also know of a person in american fork who was given just a warning for having their dogs bark at 1am.Ok the citation could have gone to the dogs barking but a citation not a warning given for having stereo too loud on a weekday in the afternoon in the city of orem. Ive come to the conlusion from the lady and her brown lawn and the stereo being too loud which both happen in the city of orem is that the city of orem must be low on money or they are really have alot of time on their hands.Solution: Move to another city not state,( because Utah is still a great state to raise a family)other than Orem,Utah besides what does the sign say by UVSC? Welcome to Family Friendly Orem, come on city of Orem live up to your name.

Aggro | 2:52 p.m. April 5, 2009

["Officer (Jim) Flygare did not commit the offense of assault during the arrest of Ms. (Betty) Perry. His actions were necessary to gain physical control of Ms. Perry and to prevent escalation of the incident," according to the report released by Utah DPS.]

His "actions" sound like legalized domestic violence to me. Flygare needs to gain control of his pathetic fear of old ladies first before enforcing brown lawns. Perry's arrest was however a legal enforcement procedure for an menial offense of this nature, it's just that most cities elect the citation route so as to beget a good reputation. Orem appears to be lacking in this logic. The city thinks they've "resolved" the issue? Only after Flygare made Orem PD internationally infamous; thanks a lot Flygare. Orem PD, the supposed "cadillac" of police in all of Utah, now internationally known as a mere lawn cop bruiser service.

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