Man, 81, charged for clearing pothole for repair

[May 27, 2009]  AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio man said he chipped away loose material to prepare a pothole for repair and thought he was helping the city, not breaking the law.

An undercover police officer spotted 81-year-old James Stacy in the street near Stacy's home with a pickax and a broom last week. Stacy said he cleared the 3-foot-wide hole because he expected a crew to patch it and wanted the patch to last longer.

Public works manager Paul Barnett said he'd always like to do such cleaning. But he said it created a greater safety hazard until the hole was patched.

Police charged Stacy with criminal damaging, saying he destroyed fresh asphalt and ignored an officer's warning.

Stacy denies that. He is scheduled in court Tuesday and faces up to 90 days in jail.

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Information from: Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com/

[Associated Press]

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