A Florida man was arrested for displaying an obscene bumper sticker on the back of his truck, one that either expressed his sexual preferences, or his love for a four-legged animal.
After Dillon Shane Webb was told the sticker was “derogatory,” he claimed his freedom of expression was violated, and the deputy’s office asked if he was using his free speech to express his desire of “eating a donkey.”
Keep reading to learn why Webb was arrested over a bumper sticker!
In 2019, a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy was driving behind a pickup truck when he noticed a vulgar sticker plastered on the middle of the rear window.
Dashcam footage shows Deputy Travis English stopping his cruiser in a parking lot behind the brown pickup, operated by Dillon Shane Webb, 23, with the bumper sticker in clear view.
The letters on the sticker – printed in bold white – reads, “I EAT A**.”
In the video, the deputy approaches the passenger side of the truck and after saying, “hello gentleman,” he explains that he pulled the car over due to “the derogatory sticker” displayed on the back of his truck.
In Florida, law prohibits “any sticker, decal emblem or other device attached to a motor vehicle containing obscene descriptions, photographs or depictions.”
“How’s it derogatory?” Webb asks from inside the car.
The officer replies, “How’s it not derogatory?”
“Some 10-year-old kid sitting in the passenger seat of his momma’s vehicle looks over and sees ‘I eat a**’ and asks his mom what it means,” English says. “How is she going to explain that?”
Sniping back, the driver provides the wrong answer: “That’s the parent’s job, not my job,” Webb says before he’s asked to present his driver’s license and registration.
After stepping out of the vehicle, Webb is searched, and the deputy tells him the sticker is a “misdemeanor violation of Florida’s obscene materials law.”
“I have four kids…if my 6-year-old was to look at me and like, ‘dad what does I eat a** mean?…he’s curious…and the way [you] handled this situation, I’m not pleased with,” English said before offering Webb the opportunity to explain his sticker to the court system.
Next, the deputy suggests Webb remove one of the letters from the word “A**” to read “AS.” But Webb refused, citing his constitutional right to free speech.
A few minutes later, things take a nasty turn for Webb.
After confirming with his supervisor that he had reasonable rights within the law, English steps out of his cruiser and approaches Webb, who’s leaning against his car, looking at his cellphone.
“All right Mr. Webb. Place your hands behind your back,” Webb is told. When he asks “why?” he learns “because you’re going to jail.”
Asking “for what?” English explains that he was given “the option to take that off” the window, but he “refused.”
He was then arrested and charged with the additional offense of “resisting an officer without violence.”
‘Perverted mind’
“They’re just words,” Webb later told First Coast News. “If that’s how they feel, if they have a perverted mind, that’s on them.”
But according to Sergeant Murray Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, it wasn’t just the words on the sticker that Deputy English determined was illegal.
“It was the obscene phrase depicting what the deputy thought was a sexual act, which is obscene by definition,” said Smith. “What would a reasonable citizen think? Is the guy eating a donkey or is he doing a sexual act?”
The incident captured the attention of a lot of social media users, the majority who defended Webb.
“So what if he eats donkey. What’s the big deal?” asks one netizen. Another, referring to English speaking of his child’s potential reaction to the sticker, says, “Since when are a cop’s feelings deserving of an arrest?”
“I live here and as soon as we heard he got arrested we all went and got the sticker and put it on [our] trucks,” pens a third.
Another adds, “He better keep his kids off the internet. They will see far worse than this.”
The State Attorney’s Office cited the First Amendment and the charges against Webb were dropped. Later, Webb sued for alleged violations of his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights, but U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida ruled that the arrest was “arguably justified under Florida’s obscenity law,” giving the officer and his supervisor “qualified immunity,” which means they are protected from the lawsuit.
This case underscores the ongoing debate in the U.S. over free speech and its boundaries, especially around expressions some might find offensive or derogatory. It also reflects how the First Amendment remains a contentious issue, with some insisting their right to free expression is under threat, while others argue for consideration that certain messages will have on the population.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please share your thoughts with us and then share it with your friends so we can get the conversation going!
During an Argument on the Road, My Husband Threw Me Out of the Car 30 Miles from Home
Scarlett’s weekend escape turned into a nightmare when her husband’s jealously got out of hand and she ended up stranded thirty miles from home. She had no idea that karma would provide an unexpected turn of events that would reverse the situation and give her a sense of fairness again. I’m Scarlett. Hi. I recently got back from what was meant to be a fantastic weekend getaway with my husband, Sheldon. Our marriage had lasted for a decade. I get along well with you most of the time.
But tensions do arise occasionally. Things took a bad turn this past weekend. After spending two days in a quaint little town, we were on our way back. The sun was bright and we had been to several beautiful locations. We had pleasure in boat rides, lovely parks, and cozy cafés. It seemed like the ideal diversion from our hectic life. Sheldon was content, and I was relieved to see him unwind once. Everything was great till the very last day. We went to a little eatery for lunch. Sheldon thought our waiter was a little too chatty. He was certainly pleasant enough. He began teasing the waiter about how attentive he was. I dismissed it with a laugh, but Sheldon became upset. What piqued his interest in you so much? We walked to the car and Sheldon inquired. Trying to keep the conversation light, I answered, “I think he was just doing his job.” Sheldon remained silent as we climbed into the vehicle. At first, the drive home was calm. I tried to savor the remaining moments of our journey as I gazed out the window. However, I could sense Sheldon’s resentment building up next to me. They were on the road for almost an hour when Sheldon finally spoke. He spoke in a frigid tone. “I observed your gaze on him.” With a sigh, I had a knot in my gut. “Sheldon, I wasn’t giving him any particular attention.” He tightened his hold on the steering wheel. “If I hadn’t been here, I doubt you would have refrained from flirting!” That remark hurt. I looked up at him. “You can’t really say that? I’d never be unfaithful to you! He snapped back, “Well, you sure had a funny way of showing it.” My heart was racing. “You’re acting absurdly.
He was just going about his work as a waiter. The dispute swiftly became more heated. In minutes, we went from a tight stillness to yelling. Sheldon’s words wounded more than they had before. Even though his envy was unjustified, he wouldn’t let it go.”You have no idea how it feels,” Sheldon said, raising his voice. “Observing you grin at a different man.” “This is unbelievable,” I murmured while shaking my head. Sheldon, you have my affection. You can’t trust me, why? My heart leaped as he abruptly stopped the automobile. “Leave,” he uttered with clenched teeth. Startled, I questioned, “What?” “Go outside and stroll back home!” he said again, his eyes flaming.
His serious expression conveyed that he wasn’t kidding, even though I couldn’t believe he was serious. With tears hurting my eyes, I opened the door. I slammed the door behind me and muttered, “Fine.” I watched from the side of the road as Sheldon drove off, leaving me by myself. I started to move, a mixture of anguish and rage in me. I was baffled as to how our idyllic weekend had devolved into this nightmare. I had problems with Sheldon, but nothing like this I had ever anticipated.I took to the roadside and began to stroll. The air was growing chilly as the sun descended. Not only was I cold, but I was also shocked by what had transpired. I held out my thumb in the hopes that someone would see me and offer to help. Vehicles zoomed by, their drivers giving me curious or disinterested looks. My thoughts raced, repeatedly playing out the disagreement that I had with Sheldon. He had no idea that I would ever be unfaithful to him. Although his jealousy had never been good, this instance it had taken a toll. After what seemed like an endless amount of time, a car eventually slowed down and stopped over. The man behind the wheel, a kindly-looking middle-aged man, rolled down the window. Need a lift, he enquired. With a wave of relief, I said, “Yes, please.” “Many thanks for that.” Feeling relieved to be off my feet and out of the cold, I got into the car. The chauffeur beamed at me. “My name is Tom,” he introduced himself. “Where are you going?”Home,” I answered. “This is around thirty miles away.” Tom nodded and got behind the wheel. “You know, it was a rough day?” I sighed and added, “You have no idea.” “After a heated argument, my spouse abandoned me by the side of the road.” Tom gave me a pitying glance.
“I regret learning that. Would you like to discuss it? I told Tom about the weekend, the waiter, and the out-of-control dispute as we drove. Speaking with someone and getting everything off my chest felt fantastic. Tom carefully listened, occasionally nodding. When I was done, he responded, “Sounds like your husband has some serious trust issues.” Yes, I replied. “I just don’t get why he doesn’t think I’m trustworthy.” For a while, we drove in quiet as I glanced out the window, thinking back on all that had transpired.
Sheldon was the love of my life, but his jealousy was breaking us. If he didn’t think I was trustworthy, how could we go forward? Abruptly, I noticed a recognizable vehicle off to the side of the road. A beat skipped in my heart. Behind the car, which belonged to Sheldon, were flashing police lights. “Tom, that’s my husband’s car,” I said. Could you please stop? Tom gave a nod, reduced his speed, and parked behind the squad car. Stepping out, I made my way over to Sheldon, who was chatting with a policeman. When he saw me, he appeared taken aback and slightly ashamed. “What’s happening?” I walked up and asked. The policeman turned to face me. “Ma’am, is this your husband?” Yes, I answered. “What took place?” The officer said, “He was pulled over for speeding and reckless driving.” “We may have to suspend his license and tow his car because this is his third offense.” Sheldon turned to face me, a mixture of desperation and rage. “Please, Scarlett, could you assist me?” I inhaled deeply, attempting to control my feelings. “Officer, may I take the car home?” I asked. My license is still in effect. The officer gave me a long look before nodding. “All right. We won’t need to tow it if you drive. He is still receiving a ticket, though. Taking the keys from Sheldon, I felt vindicated and empowered.
I was the one saving him now that this was his disaster. Upon taking the wheel, I couldn’t help but experience a wave of fulfillment. Sheldon sat dejectedly on the side of the road. He murmured, “Thank you,” as I turned on the ignition. I remained silent. Rather, I concentrated on the path ahead, experiencing a sense of both relief and accomplishment. Now I was in charge. Sheldon had to realize there were repercussions for what he did. I had a strange sense of finality as I drove away, leaving Sheldon to deal with the police. While it wasn’t the solution to our issues, this was a start in the right direction for me to regain my power and independence. I would be there for Sheldon as he faced his own problems, but only if he could learn to trust me. I was happy to drive home for the time being, knowing that karma had truly had the last laugh.
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