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Man Steals Century’s Rose Bushes, Hauls Away Loot In Baby Carriage
August 6, 2012
A Century man has been charged after allegedly stealing rose bushes from the Town of Century and hauling away his loot in a baby carriage.
Arthur Walker, 41, was charged with second degree petit theft and later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $250 bond.
Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that she witnessed Walker walking down the sidewalk pushing a baby carriage with two rose bushes inside of it. As she arrived at the Century Town Hall, she noticed that two rose bushes had been dug up and removed from the town hall driveway. An employee of the nearby Century Branch Library told deputies the same information.
A warrant for Walker’s arrest was issued after Century Mayor Freddie McCall told deputies that he wished to pursue charges. McCall said he had met with Walker twice before after he allegedly stole chain link fence from town property, and Walker said he would not longer steal from the town.
Walker is due to make his first court appearance in September.
Comments
22 Responses to “Man Steals Century’s Rose Bushes, Hauls Away Loot In Baby Carriage”
REGARDING:
“I can read about murder and other harsh crimes, look at the comments and see so little concerns of that crime,”
Murder and other harsh crimes are common place. They have been commented to death. A few think they are okay as long as the victim was imperfect and/or the killer/criminal was a relative or good friend or business associate. Most people think killing is bad and have already said so.
Also, if one commenter says what you intended to say, you sometimes don’t feel the need to “ditto” that comment. You just wanted that viewpoint considered and it was.
As to punishments for different crimes by different people, please consider that nobody here has opined as to what the punishment for rose bush theft should be, just what an interesting person the stealer is and that he probably should be in a nut house for treatment. This is a grown man doing very immature things. That makes him interesting.
If a child does an immature thing, even with deadly consequences, that is still a different thing. The question of whether it is murder or manslaughter comes into play. Was there intent? What is the proper response?
Uncommon crimes are interesting because they just don’t happen all that often. Stealing sod or rose bushes is peculiar and therefore worthy of its own set of comments. When you steal public property, there is no question of intent. When you continue to steal public property, there IS question of taste, purpose and sanity. This makes it all interesting.
David for boring days with no crimes
and real cures for insanity
I have read plenty of comments on this website, but it is sad when I can read about murder and other harsh crimes, look at the comments and see so little concerns of that crime, then I come across a man stealing ROSES and read a debate on weather or not this man should be in jail.
A girl kills her sister gets one YEAR, how much time do you think this man should get?
Stealing roses or even a stick of gum is wrong but this is so messed up!
REGARDING:
“all Tuf was really saying is that we should have more compassion, love and understanding for all people ”
Let’s show him lots of compassion, love and understanding. No sweat. In fact YOU should bring him some of the things he has had to steal all by himself. I’ll bring him cold water if he needs it.
But that is not the same thing as telling people they have to consider unrepentant thieves something God did not say they were. This is a theological discussion independent of sod stealers or rose robbers.. When you cite the verse he cited, you are saying those who think what he did was a bad thing will be cast into Hell.
(Matthew 25 NIV
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ” )
Tuf would be right if that is what the Lord said, if HE was talking about unrepentant thieves being His brothers and sisters. It isn’t. Please look up for yourself what the Bible promises to those who add to it or takes away from it.
That’s the problem with condemning people for condemning and judging people for being judgmental. It is doing the thing it is protesting.
David for careful consideration,
compassion for the insane and yellow roses
@ Toni:
The article does not say the roses were hidden. When someone is present and can plainly see what is happening then the article does not have to say it because you already know exactally what happened. Let him come and steal something from you and then see how you feel. Sure you will probably let it go the first time like the mayor did, but when it happens again is it still ok? Love and understanding is wonderful but at what point is it not ok with someone stealing your property?
@ Tish, now where in this article does it say that he had the roses hidden? If they were hidden Leslie would not have seen them don’t you think? I am not saying what he did was right at all..YES HE STOLE THE FLOWERS AND IT WAS WRONG…but for those of us who do know Arthur, knows he has some mental issues and @David Im not trying to justify evil and it is what it is a MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY. I do think most people know that stealing period it’s the will of God, all Tuf was really saying is that we should have more compasion, love and understanding for all people but some people like to take things a little further than they need to go..smh.
I believe in 2nd chances but its apparent the century stealer has had his chances mr McCall more that gave him a chance, Century or Flamoton or surrounding areas should not have to tolerate this type of behavior from the metally challenged if that is truely what it is // there is group homes for this , Its uncalled for .there is alternatives other than prison , those inmates dont deserve to have to tolerate this behavior either , lake view I believe its called ////
The theft of municiple property is definetly on the rise. I noticed the other day that someone had removed the Wawbeek city limits signs from highway 31.
The man has a history of mental problems..the decent thing to would be let him bring them back & plant & perhaps let him work it off, but no, we have prisons to fill with mental patients. The sheer cold-heartedness of people continues to amaze me.
David Huie Green. Always makes my day with his comments..
REGARDING:
“Where is the spirit of love, mercy, forgiveness and calls for prayer so often plastered across the comments of this website?”
If you read closely, those comments are usually made by people who are kin or friend to the culprit trying to justify evil. I’m sure his loving friends will join in soon and explain why he so desperately needs roses that he has to steal them from the wealthy people of Century.
AND
“This man is a CLASSIC example of “the least of these” mentioned by Jesus Christ himself.”
Actually, he may not be. Please consider from the NIV:
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Now, we COULD assume Jesus means all people are his brothers and sisters OR we can listen to Christ per Matthew 12:46-50:
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
(using the KJV this time)
So ask yourself, IS STEALING ROSES, REALLY THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER?
David for real spiritual brothers
and free roses
Tuff: I assume you are a psychiatrist or some other form of mental health expert?
I am not, however I worked for many years in the state prisons around people who manipulated society by acting like they were crazy. Some of them are very convincing. Many of them when taken to the psychiatrist were found to be sane and were found to be manipulative for an ulterior gain. The man knew enough about right for wrong that he knew to hide the roses. We need to leave the diagnosis to the professionals who are trained to make them.
A “crib full of lies?” “Stealing is stealing?” “You just can’t fix stupid?”
After some of the descriptions following my earlier post, it is apparent this man needs real community support, and perhaps a caregiver or family member to assist in his life. Stealing may be stealing, but when you are mentally unable to determine right from wrong, which obviously he is having some difficulty with by stealing landscaping, what good does civil punishment accomplish?
Where is the spirit of love, mercy, forgiveness and calls for prayer so often plastered across the comments of this website? Is it that he is not well known or connected to a familiar family? This man is a CLASSIC example of “the least of these” mentioned by Jesus Christ himself. I cannot even comprehend the hearts and souls generating some of the comments above.
I hope a judge shows compassion, directs him to real help and to a group of people who can provide him with care and love… and not into incarceration over petty roses and sod.
He’ll have his day in court, but I would think the judge would probably want to evaluate his mental state first. If he does need help (it certainly sounds like it), then maybe he can get it and do something productive other than stealing.
I wonder why he stole them Really he steals grass and fixer up stuff does he have a mental issue maybe he wants to fix stuff up give him a job keeping up flowers and stuff maybe.
Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses–he took it a step further.
I know it sounds stupid to arrest someone for stealing rose bushes but stealing is stealing no matter your ecenomic status or your mental status. He had them hidden from sight in the carriage so he knew he was doing wrong. It is a sad situation but you csn’t just ignore it and hope it fixes itself.
I have witnessed him stealing sod from the side of the road after they laid it. i told the road crew because how can they make century look better when fools like him keep messing it up because he don’t have a real job. It makes me mad that people like him always mess up things for people like me.
You just can’t fix stupid! The mayor should have pressed charges the first time instead of listening to a “crib”full of lies!
thats the guy thats always dancing on the street
This man probably needs mental evaluation and assistance in knowing who to go to for such help, not necessarily jail time.
Sometimes, a man just needs to decorate.
Looks like he was taking those babies back to his crib.
Rose bushes? He stole rose bushes? Reality is surely stranger than fiction….