Turlock police arrested an alleged panhandler on Thursday afternoon after she was found to have an active warrant.
Officers arrived to the 2600 block of Geer Road and contacted Jamie Morris, 32, at approximately 4:45 p.m.
Upon contacting Morris for her alleged panhandling, officers found Morris to have an active misdemeanor warrant for theft.
Morris was arrested and issued a citation.
The Turlock Police Department has been taking steps to cut down on panhandlers around Turlock. In January, an anti-aggressive panhandler ordinance was passed to help Turlockers feel safer while conducting their business.
The ordinance prevents panhandlers from intentionally touching, blocking, following, or using threatening gestures toward a person. Panhandlers are also no longer allowed to panhandle within 15 feet of any entrance or exit to a bank, credit union, or check cashing business, nor are they allowed to solicit within 15 feet of any automated bank machine.
To read the full ordinance and Turlock Municipal Code, visit http://www.ci.turlock.ca.us/government/municipalcode/.
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