CLEARWATER - Technically speaking, the Clearwater Police Department violated evidentiary procedure by not preserving surveillance video taken at a McDonald's restaurant the day a grandmother was arrested outside, a judge said today. ...more

July 10, 2008

Where's the old Court TV when we need it? The 76-year-old "French Fry Grandma" is scheduled to go on trial in Pinellas County Court July 10 in a legal donnybrook that gets saltier by the week. ...more

July 7, 2008

CLEARWATER - A county judge this morning dismissed a motion to drop charges against Jean Merola, the 76-year-old woman arrested in January and accused of blocking the drive-through at a McDonald's. ...more

June 20, 2008

A county judge on Friday said he would consider a motion to dismiss charges against the 76-year-old grandmother accused of obstructing a McDonald's drive-through, while the woman's attorney said he would attack the arresting officer's ability to tell the truth if the case goes to trial. ...more

June 14, 2008

CLEARWATER - A county judge today said he would consider a motion to dismiss charges against the 76-year-old woman accused of obstructing a McDonald's drive-through, and her attorney said he would attack the arresting officer's ability to tell the truth if the case goes to trial. Jean Merola was 75 when she arrested Jan. 17 at the McDonald's drive-through at 1934 Hercules Ave. N., after Officer Matthew Parco repeatedly instructed her to move her Lincoln Town Car while she waited for an order of french fries without salt. ...more

June 13, 2008