90 year old, Arnold Abbott of Ft. Lauderdale was arrested Sunday on charges of feeding the homeless. Abbott is an avid church goer and prepares all the meals he gives away in the Sanctuary Church’s kitchens.
Recently Ft. Lauderdale has passed new restrictions as to where groups can provide food for the needy. Organizations or food stands need to have permits and have to be 500 ft away from residential properties.
Abbott, who runs a non-prophet organization called Love Thy Neighbor and two other pastors can face up to 60 days in jail and will have to pay a $500 fine for their “criminal” actions. On Sunday while he was trying to help the hungry, police officers approach him stating that what he was doing was illegal.
“One of police officers came over and said ‘Drop that plate right now,’ as if I was carrying a weapon,” Abbott said according to KHON2 News.
This wasn’t Abbott’s first run in with police. Several years ago he was arrested after serving meals to the needy while on a beach. He later sued and one the case.
“I’m going to have to go to court again to sue the city of Fort Lauderdale, the beautiful city. These are the poorest of the poor. They have nothing. Don’t have a roof over their head, and who could turn them away?” Abbott asked.
Abbott stated that he would fire up the stove and be out and about on Wednesday. He runs the risk of being arrested and fined again.
“I have tried to abide by their regulations, but we just are not able to provide a port-a-potty,” he told Fox News. “I believe that is the job of the municipality, anyway.”
Photo via Sun-Sentinel
