Partygoers Mistakenly Peg Police Officer As Stripper

[chadtm80]

Partygoers Mistakenly Peg Police Officer As Stripper

POSTED: 6:48 a.m. EDT June 3, 2003

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A police officer arriving at a bachelorette party because of a noise complaint was mistaken as the entertainment.

The partygoers thought Gainesville Police Officer Jamie Hope was the stripper, and they didn't realize he was legitimate until he drove away with the bride-to-be in handcuffs.

"They didn't go so far as to try and grab him," Gainesville Police Sgt. Keith Kameg said.


But they were wondering when the show would start.

"When he was taking her to his car, everyone thought he was the stripper and everyone said, 'OK, the warning has gone far enough. Are you going to start stripping?"' Kameg said.

The 30-year-old Hope, a married, six-year veteran of the force, was dispatched to the party early Sunday because of a noise complaint.

He issued a noise warning, and as part of procedure, he also ran a warrants check on the bride-to-be. That's when he found that the 24-year-old woman had an outstanding warrant for a violation of probation involving an almost 2-year-old open-container citation.

Court records show she had failed to pay $11 in connection with the citation, resulting in the probation violation and a warrant. The woman's bond was set Sunday at $11, and she was released.

"He had to make an arrest," Kameg said. "We have to do that by law."

Said Hope: "I told her about the open container. Her friends, they were saying, 'I'm sure he's joking.' I guess she was waiting for somebody to tell her the joke was over. I don't think it hit home until we were actually in the car."

[southerngale]

I'm sure that's NOT how she wants to remember her bachelorette party, but for $11??? She should have paid it already....dumb!

[therock1811]

That was stupid.

[mf_dolphin]

OOPS! At least she didn't add an assault charge by "supporting" her local policeman