Ever had a toilet overflow? It can be a little irritating, especially when the water just won’t stop and it starts getting everywhere. It can cause some to fire off a few words that are not meant for mixed company. But, in Scranton, it can cost you if you say them near an open window:
A West Scranton woman could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300 for allegedly shouting profanities at an overflowing toilet while inside her Luzerne Street home.
Dawn Herb, whose potty mouth caught the attention of an off-duty police officer, was charged with disorderly conduct recently, prompting her to fire off a letter to the editor and vow to fight the charge.
“It doesn’t make any sense. I was in my house. It’s not like I was outside or drunk,†said Ms. Herb, who resides at 924 Luzerne St. along with her four young children. “A cop can charge you with disorderly conduct for disrespecting them?â€
The obscenities hit the fan when she battled her overflowing toilet around 8 p.m. Thursday, she said.
Although Ms. Herb doesn’t recall exactly what she said, she admitted that she was frustrated and let more than a few choice words fly. Unfortunately, it was near an open bathroom window.
“The toilet was overflowing and leaking down into the kitchen and I was yelling (for my daughter) to get the mop,†she said. “A guy is yelling, ‘Shut the f— up,’ and I yelled back, ‘Mind your own business.’ â€
Her next-door neighbor, Patrick Gilman, a city police officer who was off-duty at the time, apparently had enough of Ms. Herb’s foul mouth and asked her to keep it down, police said. When Ms. Herb didn’t stop, he called the police.
Patrolman Gerald Tallo responded and charged Ms. Herb with disorderly conduct.
It isn’t bad enough to be wrist deep in toilet water, no, you need a $300 ticket for cussing in your own home. There is no evidence, but I am convinced that Patrick Gilman is a fake name. I have sources that tell me that Dwight Shrute uses the alias Patrick Gilman.
Nice work, Dwight.
