Go Directly to Jail

I am 53 years old. And until Sept 6, 2009 I had never been arrested in my life.

When the Police pulled me over on Desert Inn road I was not worried. Not until the officer told me that a warrant had been issued for my arrest and put the handcuffs on me.

1st mistake - I left my wallet in the truck with my partner. Always take your wallet, otherwise how will you post bail?

When I got to the Clark County Detention Center it took hours to process through and I'm dressed in shorts and short sleeve shirt and that place is freezing.

So I get arrested at 8:30AM and have no clue what is going on until after 5PM I'm cold I'm in severe pain (I'm a disabled VET) my limp is getting worse by the minute.

Finally I'm put "in the Tank" with 12 other women. 1 of which is badly in need of a shower and smells like something dead for 3 days.

I met one women that I cuddled with in an attempt to get warm. Thanks for the warmth sister. So your sitting in the tank no way to get warm. Wooden benches all night long. No blanket no pillow AC blowing.

We had women that were brought in - in swim suits. Poor little girls.

The Food was even worse. If what they gave us was supposed to be some type of warm cereal then the county is being ripped off. It was basically colored water and the most horrid crap I have ever tasted. I was not hungry enough to eat it. I gave mine to the homeless lady. She thought it was fine. Sorry but I was not that hungry.

Oh they have these phones on the wall. You can make as many calls as you like. I don't think the women realize that the phone you are calling has to accept the call. In other words YOU ARE BEING BILLED for the call. $1.00 the 1st minute .25 each after that.

So Monday morning about 6:30 AM my mate figures out how toget me out on bail. It's posted at 07:30. ($640.00)I know nothing about it. Like I can really afford that. I've been out of work for almost a year.

So while the bail is being processed I'm in a group of women taken to the showers. That's ok.. Hot water feels good and I'm not body shy. Then jail uniform yippie long pants. Then we are taken up to a hmmm "cell block".

Really weird looking beds but I really don't care. Make up the bed crawl in and sleep until we get woke up for lunch. Sorry but I'm not gonna eat that stuff either. Hey, corn. Ok I'll eat the corn. Oh and get this watered down lemonade. But hey I'm drying of thirts here.

About 10:30 or 11:00 they call my name. Tell me to put all the stuff back in the bag I'm getting out. Hug my cell mate bye. So they take you to some other little room and make you put your own clothes back on. Then you sit in that freezing little room for several more hours. If they were going to lunch why did they not let me stay in the nice warm cell block?

I finally got out at 2:30PM and walked all the way to Stratisphere in the nice warm sunlight. Stopping finally at 7/11 for a brownie and Monster. Then catch the bus $3.00 for the last couple of blocks to Circus Circus. (My leg is giving out)

Now the really bad part of this.
1. Arrest was not necessary. All the cop needed to do was inform me I had missed a court date I knew nothing about. I would have been at the courthouse Tues Morning.
2. I'm basically afraid to wear shorts now. I carry a sweater with me at all times.
3. I am depressed beyound all reason.
4. I've got all the doors locked because for some reason I'm afraid the cops are going to come and get me again.
5. I never knew that a complaint had been filed against me. I never signed anything. I was never sent any kind of notice that I needed to go to court. I was never notified that a bench warrent had been issued against me. Their is something seriously wrong with the system.

Well it's 1:30PM and I think I'm going to go take a nap. Isnt that a sign of depression. Or maybe I'll just go have a good cry - maybe both.