Charges dropped against Fla. men in sidewalk feud

[November 12, 2009]  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Prosecutors have decided to drop charges against two men who got into a raucous fist fight at a St. Petersburg City Council meeting.

Frederick Dudley and Ronald Deaton were arrested in October after they began throwing punches during an argument over a decision to privatize a public sidewalk. The men, ages 76 and 61, respectively, were charged with disorderly conduct.

Assistant State Attorney Richard Ripplinger said authorities have "better things to do than prosecute a couple of old men who got angry in the heat of the moment."

The decision to cede the public sidewalk fronting the downtown BayWalk entertainment complex had been the subject of intense debate for weeks.

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Information from: St. Petersburg Times, http://tampabay.com/

[Associated Press]

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