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Orlando man arrested after sitting on sidewalk within downtown corridor

Paul Clark, 62, arrested Monday

Sidewalk (generic) (Tony Talcott, Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

ORLANDO, Fla. – On Monday, Orlando police arrested a man sitting on the sidewalk after new city rules were put into effect, according to the police department.

In an arrest affidavit, police said they were patrolling East Central Boulevard and South Orange Avenue around 6:17 p.m.

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At the time, a patrolling officer found a transient man — identified as Paul Clark, 62 — sitting on the sidewalk in front of a nearby Taco Bell, the affidavit says.

“It should be noted that Clark has been given numerous warnings that he (sic) not allowed to sit on the sidewalk within the downtown corridor of Orlando,” the affidavit reads.

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As a result, Clark was placed under arrest and put into handcuffs, though he “became irate and began to hit his head against the plastic prisoner compartment in the transport vehicle,” police said.

On the same day, Orlando city council members approved a new ordinance that forbids people from blocking sidewalks in the city.

The new rules can result in fines or jail time for offenders if they intentionally prevent others from using the sidewalks or have already been ordered to move by law enforcement.

Orlando police told News 6 that Clark’s arrest was the first to happen since the ordinance was approved.

Clark faces a charge of sitting on sidewalks in the downtown core district. He is held on bond of $250.

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Clarification:

The Orlando Police Department on Thursday clarified that Clark faces the charge 43.88 (Sitting/Lying on Sidewalks in the Downtown Core District Prohibited) and not 43.06 (j), the new subsection of the Disorderly Conduct Ordinance, adding City Ordinance 43.88 has been in existence for several years.


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