The city of Malvern is owed more than $100,000 in delinquent fines and the judge is fed up. So the Malvern police department headed out with warrants in hand hoping to convince people to pay up. Those arrested tell FOX16 the economy is to blame for non-payment of fines.
"$752.50 down to the change. Little higher one here $1670.00 still for failure to pay fines," Curtis Kyle with the Malvern Police tells us.
And this is just a few of the fines owed to the city of Malvern. The total is a $116,000 and Friday the police department aims to collect on these delinquent fines. It's money the city can definitely use. “Be better for the city, roads some goes to police department, fire department assist us with training new officers, equipment," Kyle said.
Shane Ledford is home and is now under arrest for non-payment of more than $1200 dollars in fines. This woman claims she didn't even know she had unpaid fines until police brought her in.
"I ain't able to pay it, got bills, kids, children, it's either pay or feed me or come to jail," Ledford said.
About three hours into the operation they arrest 9 people with fines totaling $3800. It's not what they wanted but it's better than what they had.
"Still got some to go, hoping to get some more," Kyle said.
But you can avoid getting arrested if you have an unpaid fine. Jjust go by the department and pay it.
By the end of the day Malvern police arrested 18 people and collected more than $13,000 in unpaid fines. Some of that money came from people who heard about the warrant roundup and went down to the department and paid off their fines.
