Valley, Al. (12/3/2022) – On November 27, 2022, City officials in Valley, Alabama, arrested an 82-year-old woman for failing to pay several months’ worth of trash bills.
Martha Louis Menefield was arrested and released on a bond on November 27, 2022. Valley Police Chief Mike Reynolds said, “Officers of the Valley Police Department arrested Martha Louis Menefield, 82 years old, of Valley, on the charge of Failure to Pay-Trash. She was processed at the Valley Police Department and then released on bond.
City of Valley Code Enforcement Officers issued Ms. Menefield a citation in August of 2022 for non-payment for trash services for June, July, and August. Before issuing the citation, Code Enforcement tried to call Ms. Menefield several times and attempted to contact her in person at her residence. When contact could not be made, a door hanger was left at her residence. The hanger contained information on the reason for the visit and a name and contact phone number for her to call. The citation advised Ms. Menefield that she was to appear in court on September 7, 2022, about this case.
A warrant for Failure to Pay-Trash was issued when she did not appear in court. According to Environmental Services, Ms. Menefield has had her trash services suspended three times in the past two years for non-payment. Records indicate that there have been over twenty-two incidents of suspension and revocation of services since 2006.
While our officers can use their discretionary judgment on certain matters, the enforcement of an arrest warrant issued by the court and signed by a magistrate is not one of them. Ms. Menefield was treated respectfully by our officers in the performance of their duties and was released on a bond as prescribed by the violation.“
