LA MARQUE — Authorities have dropped a disorderly conduct charge filed against a woman who was handcuffed while being cited for using the F-word [Fuck] in a casual conversation at a Wal-Mart, the La Marque interim city manager said today.
City prosecutor Jay Brown dropped the charge recently after finding that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Kathryn Fridge, 29, of La Marque, City Manager Eric Gage said. [Please call Jay Brown and ask him why he was absent during Constitutional Law when they covered the First Amendment 409-935-7564].
“Of course, we would have hoped to prevail in the case, but not if there’s not significant evidence,” Gage said. [In other words, they couldn't seat a jury because everyone in the jury pool admitted in voir dire that they too had said "fuck" in a Wal-Mart but they could not spell it on the jury questionnaire.]
Fridge was not immediately available for comment. [But had she been, I am positive her comment would have been something like, "Fuck, yeah!"]
She was cited on Aug. 4 for using the F-word [Fuck] in a [private] conversation with her mother while shopping for batteries at the Wal-Mart at FM 1764 and Interstate 45 as a tropical storm menaced the Gulf Coast. La Marque is in Galveston County.
The shelf where she expected to find batteries was bare and Fridge expressed her frustration to her mother.
Her remarks were overheard by Capt. Alfred Decker, La Marque assistant fire marshal, who handcuffed her after she protested his decision to cite her for disorderly conduct.
Decker released her after issuing the citation.
If you want to congratulate Decker for keeping the peace in Wal-Mart during a hurricane he can be reached at1109 Bayou Rd # A La Marque, TX 77568 (409) 938-9260.
