Arrested!.. For Trail Work?

[SprocketHead]

Yup it's true we were questioned by the Minneapolis Police department tonight at Theo... They actually wanted to give me a ride too!

A "concerned" citizen questioned us on the trail about cutting down "live" trees... We explained that we were cutting only dead trees and that we were doing trail work with Minnesota Off Road Cyclists.. This person didn't want to hear it and promptly called the authorities.

I didn't give it another thought until I met the cruiser walking out alone on the doubletrack, PULASKI and LOPPER in hand.... BUSTED!!!

Thankfully, right before the officer wanted to put me in the back seat, here comes Mara to bust me out of jail.
...Wheewwww! Thanks to smooth talkin' Mara, I'm a Free Man!:)

Thanks Mara,
My walking-talking get out of Jail Free Card... I'll never go to Trail Work anywhere without her.

[ebrandel]

Man alive... that's crazy. I just don't get why people have to lie about stuff like that. What a killjoy.

When we used to build trails in Big Willow park in Minnetonka we had the cops called on us once and we were doing everything wrong: cutting down trees, no approval from the land manager, possibly going onto private property, etc etc, but they weren't going to haul us into the police station for it. The cop just told us to stop cutting down trees and to stay away from the land that people claimed was theirs. Of course we were young punks at the time, which may have been cause for a little bit of leniency.

Good thing the Minneapolis Police don't have anything better to do (no, that's not a shot at the police at all, it's directed at whomever deemed this worthy of a 911 call).

[SprocketHead]

I learned from the police that it was not a 911 call, the person actually called the minneapolis parks... It should have stopped there... Like, they should know who MORC is and shoudn't need to call the police, or maybe they were just being on the safe side.. Who knows, but the officer Really did ask me to get in the car!

And, Really, I was not being un-cooperative,, Perhaps the officer was thinking about the AXE in my hand!

[krazykatie]

Thats just craziness!:hit: Happy to hear it all worked out for you Mike.

[ryno lite]

Yup it's true we were questioned by the Minneapolis Police department tonight at Theo... They actually wanted to give me a ride too!

A "concerned" citizen questioned us on the trail about cutting down "live" trees... We explained that we were cutting only dead trees and that we were doing trail work with Minnesota Off Road Cyclists.. This person didn't want to hear it and promptly called the authorities.

I didn't give it another thought until I met the cruiser walking out alone on the doubletrack, PULASKI and LOPPER in hand.... BUSTED!!!

Thankfully, right before the officer wanted to put me in the back seat, here comes Mara to bust me out of jail.
...Wheewwww! Thanks to smooth talkin' Mara, I'm a Free Man!:)

Thanks Mara,
My walking-talking get out of Jail Free Card... I'll never go to Trail Work anywhere without her.

Looks like the Mpls police were doing there job detaining a ruffian like you!:)

[Buck]

I would have tazered you, then asked questions. :D

[TrailPatrol]

Now if it been in my park...let's just say that I have heard the ranger there is pretty mean.:fool:

You had your MORC Trail Crew t-shirt on when you were at the Dam Park. Did you forget it this time?

Mara is good at getting people out of tight predicaments. Just ask Shad.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[stoneage]

they should know who MORC
Typical city, park rec, police communications. I don't know how many times I had to explain to MPD, Park Police, and GV Police who was in charge at Theo. New day, new rules. There is no standard.:crazy2:

[gopherhockey]

It reminds me to have our permit on hand just in case we ran into something like this. Fortunately the parks patrol are pretty used to us by now, but one never knows. Sorry to hear about your experience, perhaps there is some learning and communication that needs to happen as a follow-up.

[Pandl]

Glad to hear you didn't get a free ride to the clink. Wonder if MORC would have paid for your bail? Do we have jail insurance?

[RiverRat]

I would recomend getting a hold of whoever MORC's contact is at MPRB and let them know of the situation, so they can spread the word around there and make sure the people who answer the phones know what MORC is. Maybe they even have contact info for the person who called in, and can give them a follow up call. Concerned citizens are good to have around, especially when they are informed of what is and is not acceptable in their areas.

This can be turned into a positive learning experience, rather than just the hassle it started out as.

[Tex]

As it is, I'm sure that the person that called MPRB never actually told them that Mike had identified himself as a MORC member. I'll bet that info went in one ear and out the other. The only thing that person figured was there was some "goofball" in the woods cutting down live trees.

It is good to have concerned citizens in the area, but it's funny what people allow to go on back there and what they will call the cops on :confused:

[Paul Swenson]

It is good to have concerned citizens in the area, but it's funny what people allow to go on back there and what they will call the cops on :confused:

There seems to be some people who mistake Theo for virgin forest. For instance, the guy who wrote the letter to the paper about the drop in wildlife at Theo.

It's a city park that used to be a dump for heavens sake.

[manual63]

I'll never go to Trail Work anywhere without her.

Yeah, that's how I get by....:D

[manual63]

Mara is good at getting people out of tight predicaments. Just ask Shad.


LMAO!!!

Actually, I think it was good they came out to check on us. The guy that called was a bit nuts, but what if it was rogue trailbuilders? It would be nice to see them get caught. I don't mind them checking up on us one bit.

So, Mike will never walk alone with a Pulaski again........he learned his lesson.....:p:)

[Chug]

Funny, I saw you talking to the police when I was rolling in, and I could have sworn that it was a city police not a park police, but I was not paying attention. Good thing the others were not too far behind.
Nice work last night by the way. I know there was one turn that surely needed some help and you all took great care of it.

[ryno lite]

I guess the whole safety in numbers thing applies here! Don't get separated from the pack!

[bigwheel]

Actually, I think it was good they came out to check on us. The guy that called was a bit nuts, but what if it was rogue trailbuilders? It would be nice to see them get caught. I don't mind them checking up on us one bit.

Good point.

I'm sure that one of us would bail out Mike, but we will let a rogue trail builder or trail modifier pick up the soap for a while. :sick:

BTW, Mike - Thanks for doing the work. But, you really should be wearing a dirt boss (or at least a worker) shirt when you are doing anything significant.

[mara]

Thanks Mara,
My walking-talking get out of Jail Free Card... I'll never go to Trail Work anywhere without her.

Awwwww . . . :redface2:

I bet I know someone who won't tear out of trailwork ahead of the herd for a while . . .

I'm kind of bummed that there are still some people who will never accept that what we're doing is a good thing, but I'm pretty happy they're in an ever shrinking minority.

The MPRB does know what happened and they do know and approve of us doing trailwork. No worries on that front -- it's just such a big and busy city that it is really hard for everyone to know what's going on all the time. The officer we spoke with couldn't have been nicer about the situation.

Now will all you naysayers believe me when I tell you that trailwork is fun and exciting? :D

[ryno lite]

You guys are really selling trailwork at Theo!:)

Although, the Three Rivers Parks Patrol has stopped Murphy workers many times (before the trail opened) to confirm that we had the right to be in the park doing work. Although, I don't think any of us were in danger of going into the back of a police car!

[mara]

Although, I don't think any of us were in danger of going into the back of a police car!

Well, Mike's a shadier character than most of the Murphy crew . . . :D

Or it could have been the fact that our detractor told police we were destroying the forest and cutting down live trees, but I'm sticking with the shady character story.

[DmacBmac]

I guess when I mentioned to that individual he could jam his phone in his a$$ he took me serious. I remember what that tubby looks like...hope my mountain bike doesn't run over him is a freak accident. :crazy2:

Hey Mike, I told you we should have taken him out!!LOL :banana::D

[manual63]

Well, Mike's a shadier character than most of the Murphy crew . . . :D

And mara managed to talk us out of trouble while holding a mean pulaski. Now that's talent!

[SprocketHead]

Well, Mike's a shadier character than most of the Murphy crew . . . :D

Or it could have been the fact that our detractor told police we were destroying the forest and cutting down live trees, but I'm sticking with the shady character story.

And mara managed to talk us out of trouble while holding a mean pulaski. Now that's talent!


Hey, wait now... I was trying to get the police lady to join us!
... She did seem a bit nervous about the Pulaski though, when I put it down, she quit asking me to get in the car.

Next time, I'm going with Don's advice! :crazy:

All's well that ends well... And yes, Trail Work is always exciting at Theo!

[99FSRComp]

And mara managed to talk us out of trouble while holding a mean pulaski. Now that's talent!
The officer must not have noticed the usual blood, tissue and hair sticking to mara's pulaski.:crazy:

[steef]

And the most important thing is that we (including Mara) learned mara's middle name. ;)

[steef]

Good point.

I'm sure that one of us would bail out Mike, but we will let a rogue trail builder or trail modifier pick up the soap for a while. :sick:

I thought the soap duties were reserved for trail poachers

BTW, Mike - Thanks for doing the work. But, you really should be wearing a dirt boss (or at least a worker) shirt when you are doing anything significant.

These so called shirts should come in hawaiian style. ;)