Runner goes on tirade after being stopped by police for not using the sidewalk
Police stopped Vera Pecaj, a runner from Brighton, Mich., because she was not using the sidewalk. She then proceeded to go on an expletive-filled tirade.
In Michigan, pedestrians are prohibited from walking or running on the road if there’s a sidewalk provided. If Vera Pecaj knew that before going on a run, she may not have been stopped by police and arrested for refusing to give the officer her name and resisting arrest.
The Brighton, Mich. resident was out for a run and was using the road instead of the sidewalks when she passed a police officer parked on a side street. As can be seen in the below footage, she ran in front of the officer’s car. A sidewalk was provided on the opposite side of the road.
According to Michigan State Law, “where sidewalks are provided, a pedestrian shall not walk upon the main traveled portion of the highway. Where sidewalks are not provided, pedestrians shall, when practicable, walk on the left side of the highway facing traffic which passes nearest.”
Though it appears she was running against traffic in the video, which is generally the better option (if there are no sidewalks) compared to running with traffic as one can see vehicles approach, the Detroit Free Press reports that she had her back to traffic.
The woman, who was listening to music at the time according to a report, was running in Green Oak Township, which is located approximately 75 kilometres west of Windsor, Ont.
According to WXYZ Detroit, Pecaj continued running when asked to stop.
“She began yelling at me saying that she did not need to stop because she did not do anything wrong,” wrote the officer in the police report. The officer grabbed her by the arm, arrested her and she was charged with felony resisting and obstructing. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was fined US$707.
During the tirade, Pecaj reportedly spit on the police officer and refused to give the office her name.
The footage from the police car’s dash cam was released on Wednesday but the incident took place the afternoon of Jan. 2, 2016.
Warning: The video contains explicit language.
Additional footage of the event, also with some offensive language, can be seen below:
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