When Otis the town drunk goes to jail on "The Andy Griffith Show," it always produces some comedic moments.
But for a Mount Airy man who impersonates the familiar character, his real-life arrest for recently violating a city ordinance prohibiting sidewalk obstructions has been no laughing matter.
James Slate, 63, was handcuffed, placed in a police car and hauled off to Dobson, where he had to wait about 45 minutes, part of the time in a holding cell, until his wife could come and post a $500 cash bond. He was taken into custody at Mayberry Country Store, his son's business on North Main Street that is right beside Snappy Lunch, where Slate often sits outside and plays checkers with tourists
James Slate, himself an officer with the Mount Airy Police Department for more than 10 years during the 1970s and 1980s, is an avid "Andy Griffith Show" fan who's been impersonating its Otis Campbell character for about four years.
Slate explained that he is retired and a disabled veteran, which prevents him from working a regular full-time job. So he portrays Otis on a volunteer basis, donning a suit, tie and hat similar to what actor Hal Smith wore on the show, along with carrying around a moonshine jug.
The impersonator appears at parades and additional events, often being joined by others who portray Deputy Barney Fife and Ernest T. Bass.
"I do it to help support tourism," Slate said of his appearances as Otis. "And they (tourists) want to see a character a whole lot of times," he added of visitors who come to soak up some Mayberry atmosphere linked to "The Andy Griffith Show."
"And I've probably seen every episode there is."
Slate also owns a Mayberry squad car that often is parked on the street outside his son's business, which he said was once home to a small store where Andy Griffith delivered groceries from as a youth.
The former police officer said the ordinance he was arrested under was adopted as part of the city code in 1963, but had been rarely enforced.
Slate said he knew of the need to keep walkways clear of merchandise and similar obstructions, and acknowledged his son receiving warnings about placing items on the sidewalk. But he had been given the impression by city officials that sitting at the small table with two folding chairs and playing checkers was allowable.
"I mean, everyone was on board with this, I thought. That's what really threw me a curve with it," Slate said.
The small table holding the checkerboard still sits on the sidewalk, but is positioned squarely against the building so that it extends out no further than newspaper boxes, which are permitted on downtown sidewalks.
On the day of his arrest in late April, Slate was alone at the store. He became involved in a disturbance with city workers preparing for the dedication of a downtown rest area that evening honoring former Mayor Jack Loftis, according to Capt. Lowe.
Slate subsequently was approached by police who advised that the checkerboard setup was in violation and had to be removed. "And he chose not to," Lowe said. The officer explained that Slate apparently thought he would simply be issued a citation, but found himself arrested instead.
This was after Slate had been given numerous chances to comply with the ordinance and avoid being taken into custody, Lowe said. "And I was tired of hearing excuses."
"I thought it was a joke," Slate said of the April 21 incident during an interview this week. He was scheduled to appear in Surry District Court this past Tuesday on the misdemeanor violation, which he believes to be unconstitutional, but the case was continued until May 31.
Meanwhile, the officer who made the arrest said Thursday that Slate had been given repeated warnings beforehand to comply with the ordinance, which the police department stepped up enforcement of last fall at the request of downtown merchants.
"His version is, Otis was arrested for playing checkers," Capt. Richard Lowe added. "But that's not the case."
Lowe said the ordinance under which Slate was arrested is "not anything new. It's the same ordinance that's been in effect for years and years, and we have not had any other problems." The measure basically prohibits "any obstruction whatsoever" along downtown sidewalks, such as on-street displays of merchandise.
The reason Slate was physically arrested rather than simply issued a citation, Lowe explained, was that such a citation previously had been issued against the business — specifically for Slate's son Dusty — for having items on the sidewalk in violation of the ordinance. Once a citation is issued, which is similar to getting a minor traffic ticket, the next step with non-compliance is to actually make an arrest.
Since Dusty Slate earlier had been cited and his father is closely associated with the store, the citation issued to the son was considered the "warning" for the elder Slate to avoid the arrest stage, as explained by Lowe.
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Andy Griffith and Jack Prince - Dig My Grave With A Silver Spadeby navydoctrinidad20,059 views
Maybe this arrest will give this Mr Slate the impersonator some free publicity for work.
Waynne65 9 months ago
@Waynne65 we will see its quite an interesting mayberry related otis campbell hal smith story.
johnswackyworld 9 months ago