by Gene P.
Member since:
November 11, 2008

Woman arrested for not returning library book

January 23, 2009 07:01 PM EST
views: 80 | rating: 10/10 (17 votes) | comments: 35

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa  — An Independence woman who police say failed to return a library book has been arrested.

Thirty-nine-year-old Shelly Koontz was arrested Thursday night on a fifth-degree theft charge. She is accused of keeping ``The Freedom Writers Diary,'' which she checked out from the Jesup Public Library in April 2008.

Police say the book was valued at $13.95.

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Comments: 35

Connie L. Jan 23, 2009, 7:03pm EST
oh my gosh, this is really something to think about. You know I rather buy my books than to go to the library anyway.
*Mel * Jan 23, 2009, 7:03pm EST
oh my word! intead of arresting her they should have just sent it to collections. Thats just crazyness. One time i had given my ex my blockbuster card, he rented a movie then lost it. they wanted to charge me 125.00 for one movie. craziness! but thank god i didnt get arrested!lol
Mark Jepsen Jan 23, 2009, 7:03pm EST
I say throw the book at her!
Elaine S. Jan 23, 2009, 7:03pm EST
That happens
Jody Swaney Jan 23, 2009, 7:04pm EST
I for one feel safer with this Monster off of the street.
Rae M. Jan 23, 2009, 7:06pm EST
You have got to be kidding. That is rediculas.
What a wonderful use of police services.
Teresa T. Jan 23, 2009, 7:11pm EST
Wow! I didn't even realize that there was a 5th degree theft charge in existence.
Margaret G. Jan 23, 2009, 7:11pm EST
I wonder if there's anything else to this,because otherwise,this is crazy.
Nellie (The Bad Santa of Gather) Jan 23, 2009, 7:14pm EST
stupid in my book. cripes I forgot to return a book when I left Neb. 30 years ago, does this mean there is a warrant for my arrest?
Larry H. Jan 23, 2009, 7:14pm EST
Hmmm. She did have the book a long time, was told to return it. Police didn't have much more to do. Needed something to talk about at supper time to his wife...
Teresa A. Jan 23, 2009, 7:15pm EST
Oh Brother!!
Mark Jepsen Jan 23, 2009, 7:20pm EST
(p.s. I don't really want them to throw the book at her. That's as bad for the book as it is for puns.)
Tammy N. Jan 23, 2009, 7:20pm EST
That must be one sleeeepy little town if the cops don't have something better to do with their time!
Tammy N. Jan 23, 2009, 7:21pm EST
Mark... I thought it was a good pun!
Ryan M. Jan 23, 2009, 7:28pm EST
wow.
Rebecca [Future Teacher] Jan 23, 2009, 7:30pm EST
That's stupid....it's not hard to pay a fine or replace a book
Rob Appell Jan 23, 2009, 7:30pm EST
Up against the wall. Spread those......pages.
Leah Christensen Jan 23, 2009, 7:33pm EST
Wow! That's really something.

Webfetti.com
Claudia (kitty-cat) K. Jan 23, 2009, 7:43pm EST
When are they going to start busting people who actually do things like commit murders or armed robberies or child molestations, instead of innocent people who misplace library books?
Myria H. Jan 23, 2009, 7:47pm EST
Mark, I liked your idea.
I wonder why she hadn't returned it. Why don't they just charge her what the book cost plus another dollar or two for expenses.
Ariel Storm Jan 23, 2009, 7:52pm EST
Book her!
Mike M. Jan 23, 2009, 8:30pm EST
Well, let's all go to Independence, Iowa and go off on a crime spree & make those coppers earn their pay!!!
Mike M. Jan 23, 2009, 8:30pm EST
Harrassing poor innocent bookworms!!! What Cads!!!
Claudia-Arresting people who do those things might be dangerous!
**AngelEyez** a. Jan 23, 2009, 8:57pm EST
WOW,is all I can say.WOW
Col. George W. Jan 23, 2009, 9:02pm EST
I am so happy the police in Independance MO have nothing better to do than to run down deliquent library book borrowers.
DesertDarlene L. Jan 23, 2009, 10:03pm EST
I don't believe it. In our system, we just report it on your credit if you owe us more than a certain amount.
dee b. Jan 23, 2009, 10:25pm EST
Boy cops must really be bored there. This is beyond stupid. I can see a fine or pay the cost of the book perhaps, but jail? Man now I have heard it all. Theres got to be more to all this.
Krystal Harwell Jan 23, 2009, 10:36pm EST
this world is something now.... everyone is alittle nuttier now, lol.
Nancy S. Jan 23, 2009, 10:37pm EST
I heard about that. Sometimes the law can get ridiculous.
Sandra L. Jan 23, 2009, 10:39pm EST
I'm not sure that we are getting the whole story here.
C C. Jan 24, 2009, 5:13pm EST
thanks for posting to commentsneeded.gather.com.
Christy Smith Jan 25, 2009, 3:22pm EST
Okay and YET our new treasury secretary owed over $26 THOUSAND dollars to the IRS and was NEVER, EVER arrested! In fact, he would have gotten away with it and in all probability would NEVER HAVE PAID IT, if he didn't want that treasury job.

I love this country but our Justice Department is criminal and ruins everything about our great nation. People, PLEASE, PLEASE take time to write to your congressman and the justice department about these atrocities. Their addresses are easily googled.

It has gotten so bad that you are actually better off living in a high crime area because any judge in those areas would have laughed that arrest warrant off his bench!
tomi r. Jan 26, 2009, 10:55pm EST
I think we all need to check our pipes for lead.

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