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Unreturned Library Book Leads To Arrest
Iowa Woman Arrested On 5th-Degree Theft Charge

Posted: Friday, January 23, 2009

DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images

Independence, Iowa -- An Iowa woman has been arrested because she failed to return a library book.

Thirty-nine-year-old Shelly Koontz was arrested Thursday night on a fifth-degree theft charge. She is accused of keeping "The Freedom Writers Diary," which she checked out from the public library in nearby Jesup in April.

Police said the book -- which is about a high school teacher's effort to inspire students to write -- is valued at $13.95.

Court records show library employees tried repeatedly to contact Koontz by phone and mail. A police officer even visited her home last September.

Officials at the Buchanan County jail said Koontz was released after posting $250 bond. No telephone listing for Koontz could be found in the Independence area.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

I think arresting her is a little extreme for an overdue library book

Scary. :eek:

I never returned a book I checked out of the Library in 1982.

If I lived in Iowa I'd probably be on death row right now.

;)

I think arresting her is a little extreme for an overdue library book

I agree they should have fined her for it but not arrest her.

Strangely this happened ina town called INDEPENCE :lol:

I never returned a book I checked out of the Library in 1982.

If I lived in Iowa I'd probably be on death row right now.

;)
SHHHH!! :eek: :lol:

Strangely this happened ina town called INDEPENCE :lol:
...and that the book specifically mentions FREEDOM in the title.

i bet it must be A REALLY GOOD BOOK if she is willing to go to prison over it.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/ScreenHunter_15Dec040341.gif

Arresting her was ridiculous; however, it's clear she was trying to steal the book. She must be one cheap lady.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/ScreenHunter_15Dec040341.gif
I loved that episode!! I can totally relate to it.

From now on I am returning books at my library the day they are due lol.

I loved that episode!! I can totally relate to it.



Yeah me too I love to read books.

I never heard of anyone being arrested for not returning a book until now. Usually you either return the book and pay a fine, or if the book is lost you just pay for the book. I will try harder be make sure my library books are back on the day they are due. I love to read books.

From now on I am returning books at my library the day they are due lol.
You should probably take them back the day BEFORE they are due - better safe than sorry. :lol:

that doesn't really sound like the whole story.

....so many laws to follow, so little life to live.

Wow. I never returned a library book to my school library when I was in kindergarden. That was in 1972. I wonder if they're still looking for it. lol

Wow. I never returned a library book to my school library when I was in kindergarden. That was in 1972. I wonder if they're still looking for it. lol



You're probably on the FBI's 10 most wanted list by now lol :D

To be fair...there's really nothing going on in that neck of the woods, so arresting her was probably just a way to put someone in the jail. Look, we have a prisoner! THIEF.

And...they made the paper! Screw you, Waterloo!

But it wasn't her property and she wouldn't return it, so they had a right to arrest her.

Well they did make several efforts to get the book back from her - and she just ignored the efforts - so arresting her was the last resort - but I wouldn't have held her jail - they should have made her pay a fine on the spot - like $50 or $60 and ban her from borrowing or suspending her borrowing privileges for a yr or two.