FORT WALTON BEACH — Officers were dispatched to the VFW Post on Carol Avenue after a drunk man refused to leave the area. When Fort Walton Beach Police officers arrived the man was sitting alone in a silver truck. As the officer approached, the 65-year-old man turned the engine to the truck off and rolled down his window. According to a Fort Walton Beach Police report, the man identified himself as Jerreld Salter and when he was asked if everything was OK, he answered, "It's none of your (expletive) business."
The officer smelled alcohol on Salter's breath and when he told the Fort Walton Beach man that he would need to investigate, Salter said, "Just get your fat (expletive) back in your car and leave. I'm a retired police officer." When a second officer arrived, according to the report, "Salter's tirade turned to him (by) calling him a multitude of four-letter (expletives)." When the officers told Salter to get out of his truck he rolled up his window, locked his door and laid his seat back. One of the officers opened the vehicle with keys Salter had dropped while talking to them.
So? Aside from being a bit rude I'm not sure what exactly Mr. Salter did here? I mean was he drunk, almost assuredly. Was he driving? No. So what law was he breaking? Since when are people not allowed to just chill or nap in their truck in a parking lot? Dude is a law abiding citizen, a drunk one, but law abiding. So what was he arrested for again?
I could understand if you could make the argument that he had probably just been driving, but I don't think that's the case here. I don't think it's going too far out on a ledge to assume this guy just tied one on at the VFW, realized he was too drunk to drive but just blew all his money on $2 beers and an endless amount of lotto scratchers so he has no money left for a cab. What's a drunk to do? What any sensible drunk would do, sleep it off in the parking lot until he sobers up.
Mr. Salter should be getting an award as the poster boy for anti-drunk driving campaigns. Do you know how hard it is to sit in your car and not just turn those keys and drive off? This guy has an iron will and he should be celebrated for that, not arrested.
For shame Fort Walton Beach Police, for shame.
