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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie de La Garza Judge for the Keystone Kops was the honorable Dean Rauch. |
By Natalie de La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Twenty-two people were arrested in Caribou on Feb. 20, causing an outbreak of smiles and a total of $336 donated to the Caribou Kiwanis Club.
A holdover from the days of Caribou’s grand Winter Carnival, the Kiwanis Keystone Kops struck out on their beats last Friday and jovially collected coworkers and community members during the club’s annual arresting fundraiser; people pay the Keystone Kops to arrest their co-workers, friends or family members, and proceeds from the satirical event go to the charities supported by the Kiwanis Club.
“It’s a tradition we can’t give up, that’s for sure,” said President of the Caribou Kiwanis Club Jeff Roosevelt. “They think it’s a blast to see the Kops come and haul off the defendants to appear before the judge and put in jail.”
Roosevelt explained that Friday’s bad weather did effect the fundraiser’s outcome, “But it’s all for a good cause and we have a lot of fun doing it.”
Though many of the arrested individuals had heavy workloads and busy days, Roosevelt was happy to report that most ventured down to the makeshift precinct at the American Legion on Sweden Street to serve their time.
The Keystone Kops had a warrant for one gentleman’s arrest, for example, and even though the man simply couldn’t get away from work, he found a way to play along in the spirit of the fundraiser.
“His fee was pre-paid, and to get out of the arrest he also posted bond and gave us a check for $20 so he wouldn’t have to appear in jail,” Roosevelt said.
For those who missed this winter’s event, the Keystone Kops have also been known to make arrests during Caribou’s Thursdays on Sweden events.
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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie de La Garza Gary St. Peter, owner of Napoli’s, was one of 22 community members arrested by the Caribou Kiwanis Club’s Keystone Kops on Feb. 20. He’s pictured here getting a mugshot taken. |
