A police department’s message and photo about giving to panhandlers is going viral.
The Cheyenne, Wyoming police department posted on their Facebook page that they arrested a transient for public intoxication on July 22. They say it was a man who they’ve dealt with before.
They say the man collected $234.94 in just a few hours panhandling.
The police department’s message – rather than feeding someone’s alcohol addiction, you can donate directly to local charities, like a shelter there that helps the city’s homeless population in a much more effective way.
Police added, "This person was arrested for public intoxication, having an open container of alcohol, urinating in public and refusing to obey commands. Subsequent to that arrest we logged in his property for safekeeping. Of course this money is his and will be returned to him when he is released from jail. The money is counted and all of his property is inventoried so that it can be returned to him upon his release. This is standard for every arrest we make in which property is held for safekeeping."