Robin Lee, a 45-year-old artist from Islington, was arrested for using a plug on a London Overground train to charge his iPhone, reports the London Evening Standard.
On Friday, July 10, Lee plugged his iPhone to charge in a power socket on a train from Hackney Wick to Camden Road. He was then confronted by a police community support officer who accused him of taking electricity illegally.
"She said I'm abstracting electricity," he said. "She kept saying it's a crime."
"We were just coming into the station, and there happened to be about four police officers on the platform", said Lee. "She called to them and said 'This guy's been abstracting electricity, he needs to be arrested'."
After getting off at Camden Road, Lee tried to push past the officers but was handcuffed, taken down the stairs, and put into a van. He was driven to the British Transport Police base before being de-arrested.
"I was just incredulous," Lee said. "It was an overzealous community support officer. They should never have arrested me, they knew it was ridiculous. The whole thing was just ridiculous."
A BTP spokesman said: "We were called to Camden Road London Overground station on Friday, July 10, to a report of a man becoming aggressive when challenged by a PCSO about his use of a plug socket on board an Overground train. Shortly after 3.30pm, a 45-year-old man from Islington was arrested on suspicion of abstracting electricity, for which he was de-arrested shortly after. He was further arrested for unacceptable behaviour and has been reported for this offence."
Signs near the outlets state they are for "cleaners use only and not for public use".
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Read More [via Micah]
On Friday, July 10, Lee plugged his iPhone to charge in a power socket on a train from Hackney Wick to Camden Road. He was then confronted by a police community support officer who accused him of taking electricity illegally.
"She said I'm abstracting electricity," he said. "She kept saying it's a crime."
"We were just coming into the station, and there happened to be about four police officers on the platform", said Lee. "She called to them and said 'This guy's been abstracting electricity, he needs to be arrested'."
After getting off at Camden Road, Lee tried to push past the officers but was handcuffed, taken down the stairs, and put into a van. He was driven to the British Transport Police base before being de-arrested.
"I was just incredulous," Lee said. "It was an overzealous community support officer. They should never have arrested me, they knew it was ridiculous. The whole thing was just ridiculous."
A BTP spokesman said: "We were called to Camden Road London Overground station on Friday, July 10, to a report of a man becoming aggressive when challenged by a PCSO about his use of a plug socket on board an Overground train. Shortly after 3.30pm, a 45-year-old man from Islington was arrested on suspicion of abstracting electricity, for which he was de-arrested shortly after. He was further arrested for unacceptable behaviour and has been reported for this offence."
Signs near the outlets state they are for "cleaners use only and not for public use".
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Read More [via Micah]