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OREM, Utah (AP) -- A state investigation has cleared an officer who arrested a 70-year-old woman during a dispute over her failure to water her brown lawn.
Orem police say the incident could have been handled differently, but they're satisfied with a state report that found Officer James Flygare had authority to arrest Betty Perry.
The investigation by the Utah Department of Public Safety also found that he was not responsible for the gash on Perry's nose.
There is no dispute that Perry refused to give her name to the officer, who visited July 6 to issue a ticket for failing to take care of her front yard.
The report says that as she walked back into the house "dragging" him, Perry tripped and fell against the door jam, injuring her nose. There were no witnesses and Perry claims she was a victim of excessive force.
The report says Perry's non-cooperation was the single most aggravating factor in the incident's escalation.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
