A woman in Houston, Texas spent 12 hours in jail recently after being arrested while holding up a makeshift sign warning passing motorists of a police speed trap ahead.
Claiming that she was initially threatened with a felony charge for "obstructing justice," Natalie Plummer explained to Houston ABC News affiliate KTRK that she was just riding her bicycle home when she observed an officer seemingly "pulling random cars over."
So, she tried to be helpful and warn other drivers to slow down. Ripping apart one of her grocery bags, she scribbled a makeshift sign that read: "Speed trap!!"
Moments later, an officer pulled up next to her, jumped out of the car and began trying to search her in earnest. Then he made an arrest, reportedly claiming in court documents that Plummer was standing in the street and posed a danger to herself and others.
"I for sure didn't step into the street," she said in a televised report aired earlier this week. "He couldn't take me to jail for holding up this sign or he would have. So all he could do was make up something fake about it."
Police told reporters that if Plummer feels her treatment was unjust, she should file an official complaint. She was released from jail on bond after roughly 12 hours.
This video is from Houston ABC News affiliate KTRK, broadcast on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
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Photo: Screenshot via ABC News affiliate KTRK.
