Jan. 04--An unknown Amish man was arrested in Auburn and booked under the name "John Doe" Wednesday morning for refusing to give police his identity after being stopped for a slow moving vehicle violation. After being taken to the Logan County Detention Center, he cooperated and gave his name. The individual identified himself as John Mast, 30, of Pilot Knob Road.
Auburn Police Chief Ron Mills said he stopped the Mast buggy on Lincoln Street at approximately 7:20 a.m. for not adorning a slow moving vehicle emblem. The offense, which would normally carry a fine, became much more when the individual driving the buggy refused to give Mills his name and address.
"When I asked for his name he told me it was AJ. I then asked if that were his real name and he told me it was a nickname. When I asked what his real name was he told me he didn't think he was going to tell me," said Mills.
After asking several times, Mills said he had no other choice but to place him under arrest.
Mills said if an individual refuses to identify themselves after bring stopped by police that is probable cause to arrest the individual.
"It's crazy," said Mills, who didn't want to have to place the Amish man under arrest, but had to follow the law.
After the Amish man unhitched his horse from his buggy, Mills took him to the Logan County Detention Center where he finally cooperated.
In the meantime, chief Mills says he will contact some of the Amish community in Auburn to let them know what has happened and see if they want to pick up the horse and buggy.
Copyright 2012 - News-Democrat & Leader, Russellville, Ky.
