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FW Residents Form Group To Protect Homeless Man

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Nov 25, 2008 9:19 pm US/Central

FW Residents Form Group To Protect Homeless Man

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Charles Joyner is a fixture in Fort Worth. On any given day, people are likely to find him waving from his wheelchair at the corner of Third and Houston.

"If I put a smile on somebody's face and make their day, then that's what I come here to do," said Joyner.

Police say Joyner is doing more than that. They claim the double amputee comes here to beg for food and money. Officers have arrested or ticketed the homeless man dozens of times.

"I've been put in jail. I've had my money taken from me," he said.

But Joyner's attorney says the cases are usually dropped.

Last year, one of Joyner's supporters went to the city to complain, and even some council members admitted they had given Joyner money.

But police kept coming back. So resident Robert McKee formed a coalition with 40 people to videotape the arrests.

On November 14, they captured video of an arrest. It shows an officer standing next to Joyner for more than 45 minutes. When someone handed him some food, witnesses say the officer arrested Joyner on the spot and threw the food in the trash.

According to a police report, Joyner was also strip searched after another incident on November 7 when the same arresting officer accused him of taking cash from a woman in a restaurant.

"We just want to show that Charles is clearly being picked on," said McKee.

Lt. Danny draper/fwpd spokesperson
"I have not spoken to the officer. I do not know the circumstances behind it," said Fort Worth Police Department Spokesperson Lt. Danny Draper.

But Lieutenant Draper says it does appear Joyner is violating a city ordinance, making it illegal to loiter for purpose of begging.

"It defines begging as seeking money or other items of value without giving something in return," said Lt. Draper.

But Joyner's supporters insist he never asks for anything, while others are allowed to play music for money all day long on his same corner.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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