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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Grandma Betty in the Slammer! ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 5/4/2006 INSIDE EDITION talks to Grandma Betty about the frightening night she was arrested on her way home from the supermarket. Betty's husband, Byron accompanies her to the sheriff's department as Betty begins her sentence 10 nights in jail. Getting pulled over by the police late at night can be a very scary experience, especially if it's unclear whether those flashing lights belong to a real cop. Betty Golden, a 69-year-old grandmother of eight, says she followed the advice she had heard in news reports -- she acknowledged the police, but did not pull over till she thought it was safe. However, it's that same advice that got the grandmother into a heap of trouble. Not only was she pulled over, she was even charged with a crime! Betty talked with INSIDE EDITION senior correspondent, Matt Meagher. "I'm scared, just like I was scared the night that I was stopped," Betty says. Her nightmare began on this lonely road in Centerville, Ga., as she was driving home late at night from the supermarket. She saw blue lights flashing behind her, and heard a siren, but says she wasn't sure it was the real police. Betty had seen news stories about phony cops pulling people over - robbing, raping, and even killing them. She recalled the advice from those stories that said slow down, put on your emergency flashers, and look for a populated, well-lit area to pull over. Betty says that the dash cam video from the police cruiser that pulled her over shows she did just that. "They had to know I was not fleeing, you don't flee at ten miles under the speed limit with your emergency flashers on," a disbelieving Betty tells INSIDE EDITION. When another marked police car pulled next to her, she pulled over. But what Betty didn't realize was she was in for the shock of her life. "Get out of the car, open the door, unlock the door, open the door, open the door," yelled the police officer. With a gun pointed just inches from her head, Betty says she was so frightened and nervous that she had trouble opening the door. "Do not make me break the window and pull you out of the car," the policeman continued. Betty was terrified, and says, "He could tell I wasn't any danger to him, and I think how easily that officer could have shot me." Betty went to trial on her charges, and was convicted of fleeing and interference with a police officer because she didn't open the car door fast enough. Believe it or not she was found not guilty of the original charge of failure to maintain a lane, the reason she was pulled over in the first place. Betty has never before been arrested, and has never even gotten a ticket! Betty's mug shot and fingerprints were taken. She was sentenced to ten days in jail and one year probation. Distraught and tearful, Betty says, "I will have a police record to leave my grandchildren, and maybe nobody else would really understand that except a grandmother." For two years Betty and her husband, Byron, fought the charges and spent more than $25,000 on legal bills. But last month, all of her appeals were exhausted. Betty was ordered to report to jail for ten nights, though she was allowed to go home during the day. INSIDE EDITION was with her as she left her home for the seven-mile drive to the jail, right past the spot where she was arrested. As she made the short walk to the jail, her husband Byron says he wishes he could do more to help. "She's just a very good lady and she doesn't deserve this," Byron tells INSIDE EDITION. Byron even volunteered to stay 30 days instead of his wife, but the sheriff's department would not allow it. With a few more steps, Betty entered the sheriff's office to start her sentence. She enters with the support of family and the words of her son to give her strength: "Mom, you don't know how proud I am of you you've fought the fight. You stood up for your rights. You will get through this but remember, I am very proud of you." Betty finished her sentence this week but she's not done with the legal system, she still has to complete one year of probation.
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#10. To: Red Jones (#0)
I was under the impression that if you believed you were being pulled over by someone who was not a police officer, you were to drive to a safe place. An unmarked car attempted to pull one of my friends over. He knew it was a cop, but ignored him and drove to were a bunch of people were. The cop was furious, but could do nothing. I don't understand how this happened.
#12. To: YertleTurtle (#10)
They called in a second cruiser to force her over and stop. Sick 'roid-head effers.
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