Elderly man jailed for grabbing officer
By Elizabeth Billips lizbillips@yahoo.com

An elderly Hephzibah man was jailed after he grabbed the collar of an investigator who was attempting to arrest his 48- year-old girlfriend.

According to a report filed at the Waynesboro Police Department, officers were called to Link Chevrolet after 81- year-old Willie Wiggins and his girlfriend, Marcie Streeter, began screaming at employees and refused to leave.

Investigators say the couple purchased a car there last month but were asked to bring it back when their financing fell through.

The couple allegedly refused to return the vehicle, and after 22 days, employees asked police to intervene.

After a call from officers, the couple drove to the dealership last Thursday but apparently not with plans to return the vehicle.

According to the police report, they were loud and disorderly and wouldn't leave - even after six verbal requests from police.

When the investigator grabbed Streeter's arm to handcuff her, Wiggins reportedly grabbed him by the shirt collar in an attempt to stop him.

Both Wiggins and Streeter were booked into the Burke County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and interference with police.

The couple has since filed a three-page complaint against the officers.

"The complaint is still under investigation, but right now the allegations are not adding up," Police Chief Karl E. Allen said, noting that statements were also taken from six bystanders. "The only other complaint I've heard is that the officers didn't arrest them fast enough."