We have a fun game in the office we play with our sister site The Laugh Button called “Germany or Florida.” One of us will read a headline, usually a ridiculous one, and have other people guess if it happened in Germany or Florida. Usually the most out of control, Onion-sounding ones happened in Florida, and wouldn’t you know it, here’s another one for the Sunshine State. A man was arrested on the 4th of July for playing the National Anthem. Well, to clarify a few things, he wasn’t arrested until he played a little Nuge, rocking a bit of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” before he was (not) put in an actual stranglehold by police. Also, the cops let him finish the Anthem before moving in.
Jacksonville resident Lane Pittman looked pretty damn American while rocking the Anthem, drawing an estimated crowd of 200. The patriot was shredding on the street, and was asked by cops to move to the sidewalk. After complying, he continued playing, and was arrested afterwards. Neptune police told the Orlando Weekly that he was allowed to finish the Anthem out of respect, but it was the crowd becoming hostile that led them to arrest him. We’re going to blame Ted Nugent for that. Here’s what Pittman says, via his YouTube:
ATTENTION: I want to put this out before anyone hears anything differently. On July 4th, 2015, I was arrested by Neptune Beach police officers for playing the Star Spangled Banner (and a few seconds of Ted Nugent) on my guitar on 1st Street and Margaret in the 32266.I originally set up in the middle of the street but was told by an officer that I was going to go to jail if I kept playing and that I couldn’t play in the street. I then asked if I could just move it back to the side walk and the officer said yes. So I did. After I got done, multiple officers came up to me and said they “just needed to talk to me.” I thought I was in the clear because the original officer told me it was okay to play on the sidewalk. I guess he failed to let his fellow officers know because they detained me and threatened to take me downtown for it. I do not promote deliberately defying authority. I endorse good character and fun times within the system. I did not have a drop of alcohol in my system and was just trying to be as patriotic as I can, legally, on the day of our independence. So, before rumors spread, this is to clarify ANYTHING being said among the public. I have youth that I teach small groups at in church. I have youth that I coach. I would never, for a second, want them to think that intentionally rebelling against authority is something that I am for. Nor do I want the parents of those youth to think that. I am very thankful for the support of THE greatest family, friends, and fans in the entire world. I love all of ya’ll more than you can ever know. Please feel free to share this video to anyone out there. AMERICA!!
America indeed, Lane. He’s apparently hired an attorney, claiming he was arrested without being given an explanation or having his rights read.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/QuEGn8Cn6ms[/youtube]
[Auxtv via Orlando Weekly]
