Top Cop Defends Arrest of Woman
Washington (AP) - Metro's top cop is defending the arrest of a Bowie woman for eating a candy bar on her way down a Metro Center escalator.
Stephanie Willett says the officer unfairly handcuffed, searched and held her for three hours. Police Chief Polly Hanson says Willett ignored the officer's warning, and walked away when she was asked to stop. She says Willett probably would have gotten a ticket if she hadn't been "belligerent"
Hanson says this was the second lock up this year for violating Metro's strict no eating or drinking policy in stations. Police have issued 58 tickets and given over 300 written warnings for the violation. Hanson says they created a special task force about a year and a half ago to crack down on fare evaders, litter bugs and people eating and drinking in stations after getting a lot of complaints.