The Indy 500: my story and the police scandal

Tweet

The Indianapolis 500 is a world-recognized race here in Indiana and I lived around the Indianapolis 500 my whole life. A great place to party, and up until recently, a place you would call, "the badlands", but I'll save that for a later article. During this time, the police are usually out full force and they don't give breaks for anything, major or minor. As the time counts down to The 500 coming around, I can't help to remember the scandal that blew up the police department. My story: It was about 15 years ago. I decided to go and watch the race. I've already been arrested four times at the ,"track". All bogus charges,ranging from disorderly conduct, to public intoxication. I was aware that the police had a scam. They basically arrested anywhere from hundreds to nearly 1200 people a year. The money coming into the city was outrageous. I was walking to the bathroom with three other friends. Someone asked me to hold his beer while he went in the, "cattle stall". It's a stall you use the bathroom in. Someone got into a fight,and before I knew it, a sheriff wrapped his hand around my arm. He looked to be about 80 years old. The police arrested 160 people over one fight. I got arrested for being around. In fact,they arrested SO MANY PEOPLE, I was hand-cuffed to a tree for four hours before they found me. They then interrogated me and tried to pin excess dope charges as well as other charges. I had enough. I finally quit talking. I was locked up in a 75-man cell with 200 other guests, all screaming innocence. When I finally got out on a Monday, three days later, AFTER the race, the newspaper caught wind of what the system was doing and it made the front paper. Charges were dropped, (but not thrown out, and it still follows me around to this day). Now,15 years later, things are handled differently. Only the real bad guys go to jail, (about 10%). I no longer support the 500,but I always yearn to go. If I do,it will be for box-office seats. Po-po leaves this area alone....go figure.