A man from Florida was apprehended for exhibiting an indecent bumper sticker on the rear of his truck, which either conveyed his sexual inclinations or his affection for a quadruped.
When Dillon Shane Webb was informed that the sticker was considered “derogatory,” he asserted that his right to free expression had been infringed upon. The deputy’s office inquired whether he was utilizing his freedom of speech to articulate a desire to “consume a donkey.”
Keep reading to learn why Webb was arrested over a bumper sticker!
In 2019, a deputy from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was following a pickup truck when he observed an offensive sticker prominently displayed in the center of the rear window.
Dashcam footage captures Deputy Travis English parking his cruiser in a lot behind the brown pickup, which was being driven by 23-year-old Dillon Shane Webb, with the bumper sticker clearly visible.
The sticker features bold white letters that state, “I EAT A**.”
In the recorded video, the deputy approaches the passenger side of the vehicle and, after greeting the occupants with “hello gentlemen,” he informs them that he initiated the stop because of “the derogatory sticker” exhibited on the rear of the truck.
In Florida, law prohibits “any sticker, decal emblem or other device attached to a motor vehicle containing obscene descriptions, photographs or depictions.”
“How’s it derogatory?” Webb asks from inside the car.
The officer replies, “How’s it not derogatory?”
A ten-year-old child seated in the passenger seat of his mother’s car glances over and notices the phrase ‘I eat a**,’ prompting him to inquire about its meaning. English remarks, “How is she supposed to explain that?”
In reply, the driver responds with an inaccurate claim: “That’s the responsibility of the parents, not mine,” Webb asserts before being asked to present his driver’s license and registration.
Upon exiting the vehicle, Webb is subjected to a search, during which the deputy informs him that the sticker represents a “misdemeanor violation of Florida’s obscene materials law.”
“I have four children…if my 6-year-old were to ask me, ‘dad, what does I eat a** mean?…he’s curious…and I am not satisfied with the way [you] managed this situation,” English remarked before giving Webb the chance to clarify his sticker to the judicial system.
Next, the deputy suggests Webb remove one of the letters from the word “A**” to read “AS.” But Webb refused, citing his constitutional right to free speech.
A few minutes later, the situation deteriorates for Webb.
After verifying with his supervisor that he had lawful authority, English exits his cruiser and approaches Webb, who is leaning against his vehicle while looking at his cellphone.
“Mr. Webb, please place your hands behind your back,” he instructs. When Webb inquires, “Why?” he is informed, “Because you are going to jail.”
Upon asking, “For what reason?” English clarifies that Webb was given “the option to remove that from the window,” but he “declined.”
Subsequently, he was arrested and charged with the additional offense of “resisting an officer without violence.”
‘Perverted mind’
“They’re just words,” Webb later told First Coast News. “If that’s how they feel, if they have a perverted mind, that’s on them.”
According to Sergeant Murray Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy English’s determination of illegality extended beyond the mere words on the sticker.
“It was the vulgar phrase that suggested what the deputy interpreted as a sexual act, which is considered obscene by definition,” Smith stated. “What would a reasonable person conclude? Is the individual consuming a donkey or engaging in a sexual act?”
The incident garnered significant attention on social media, with many users expressing support for Webb.
“What does it matter if he eats donkey? Why is this such a concern?” questioned one user. Another, commenting on English’s remarks regarding his child’s possible reaction to the sticker, stated, “Since when do a police officer’s feelings warrant an arrest?”
“I reside in this area, and as soon as we learned of his arrest, we all went out and acquired the sticker to display on our trucks,” wrote a third individual.
Another adds, “He better keep his kids off the internet. They will see far worse than this.”
The State Attorney’s Office referenced the First Amendment, leading to the dismissal of charges against Webb. Subsequently, Webb filed a lawsuit claiming violations of his First and Fourth Amendment rights. However, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida determined that the arrest was “arguably justified under Florida’s obscenity law,” thereby granting the officer and his supervisor “qualified immunity,” which shields them from the lawsuit.
This situation highlights the persistent discussion in the United States regarding free speech and its limitations, particularly concerning expressions that may be perceived as offensive or derogatory. It also illustrates the contentious nature of the First Amendment, with some individuals asserting that their right to free expression is being jeopardized, while others advocate for a careful evaluation of the impact that certain messages may have on society.
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