Video of Parking Dispute With Cop Causes Controversy
A video posted to YouTube Monday appeared to show a driver confronting a Webster police officer over parking his cruiser in a handicapped spot.
But the Webster Police Department said Tuesday that the parking space in question was no longer a handicapped space at the time—and that the incident was settled several months ago, when it actually took place.
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Webster Police Lieutenant Michael Shaw told Boston.com that the officer in the video notified his superiors of the incident when it happened on November 30, and afterward brought the driver into the McDonald’s, so the restaurant’s manager could confirm it was a regular spot.
“There’s really not a whole lot there,’’ Shaw said.
However, the officer acknowledged that the department has been recieving a lot of backlash this week via phone, email, and Internet comments over the months-old incident due to the video resurfacing this week on YouTube and LiveLeak.com.
“Of course we posted an explanation on our Facebook page, but people don’t believe it,’’ Shaw said. “They say we abuse our power, wish death on us, say they wish we would be ambushed and killed.’’
In the Facebook post, Webster Police explained why some believe the officer was parked in a handicapped-designated spot:
McDonald’s had recently expanded their handicapped parking, and the sign for this spot was removed, and the symbol was painted over. However, through the wear and tear of winters and traffic in New England, the black paint wore off and the symbol is somewhat visible, which thus makes it appear to be a handicapped parking spot which it is not.
The department then posted photos to show that the signage designating other handicapped spots was not present in front of the spot in question, and explain that the officer parked legally:
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In the 50-second video, the driver films the officer while asking the officer if he knows he’s parked illegally. The officer contends that it isn’t a handicap spot, and tells the driver to “get your facts straight.’’
When the officer says he is driving a marked police unit, the driver asks, “so you get to park wherever you want?’’
“That’s right,’’ the officer answers.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported that Webster Police Chief Timothy J. Bent said that he thinks “the interaction between the two of them could have been handled a little better on both parts.’’
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