Mayor apologizes to resident accused of trespassing during annual car show
By Kate White
Staff writer
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones publicly apologized Friday after a man was arrested and charged with trespassing for walking his dog at Haddad Riverfront Park during an annual car show.
Bradford Sims spent Thursday night in jail after refusing to leave the park on Kanawha Boulevard with his dog. Police had asked him to leave, saying dogs weren't permitted on the street during the Rod Run and Doo Wop, according to a criminal complaint filed in Charleston Municipal Court.
But Sims, 44, explained that he was letting his dog relieve itself, as he lives in a condominium at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. Sims allegedly told the officer that "if letting his dog use the restroom gets him arrested then so be it," the complaint states. Police took the dog to Sims' wife before taking the man to South Central Regional Jail.
After personally apologizing to Sims on Friday morning, the mayor called a press conference to publicly apologize and announce that the misdemeanor charge filed against Sims would be dismissed.
"We can't arrest someone for walking their dog," Jones said. "The police officer thought he could remove him and he can't because it's Haddad Park, at least not without an ordinance or a state law or something that says he's trespassing. It's hard to trespass in a public place."
Charleston Police Cpl. R.C. Basford wrote in the complaint that the West Virginia Motor Car Festival doesn't allow animals on the Boulevard unless they are service dogs, and that no one is allowed on the Boulevard after 10 p.m., when the event is closed to protect the valuable cars. The incident involving Sims happened at about 10:30 p.m., the complaint states.
Sims said Friday afternoon that he accepted the mayor's apology.
"I was mad at first - I was very, very angry," Sims said in a telephone interview. "I've been thinking about this for quite some time - I didn't get much sleep last night," he said with a laugh. "I'm ready to move on."
Sims added that the experience, which resulted in his first time being put in jail, didn't change his opinion of the city.
"I am absolutely in love with Charleston, West Virginia. It's my favorite place to be," he said. "The city is doing a really good job bringing in events and concerts, which just makes it a really special place. And I understand that police have a difficult job, particularly at events like that."
The mayor said city council members might need to explore whether an ordinance should be put in place to prohibit animals being on a street during events.
"I can understand, as an antique car owner, why you wouldn't want dogs on your car. I don't want my own dogs on my own car," Jones said.
Reach Kate White at
kate.white@wvgazette.com,
304-348-1723 or follow
@KateLWhite on Twitter.