Norfolk Hula Hoop Lady accused of excessive noise, assault

And she appears to be a harmless old eccentric. I think the NPD was WAY out of line tasering her repeatedly. I also wonder why she required jail time and a $5000.00 bond. We have plenty of gang bangers and crackheads around Wards Corner that dont get this sort of police response. But then again, they may actually fight back.

Alright everyone – I’ve met Pam, she’s a nice lady, I’ve even made her a hula hoop. Her deal is she has seizers. If she was having a seizer I could see how the police would see a strange behavior as a threat. If she said she didn’t remember the incident I’m pretty sure she was having a seizer.

Really the issue here is the neighbors that continue to call the police on her as a noise complaint throughout the years (as this is the second time this has happened). Her little radio is hardly enough to actually bother people. I think she is a great asset to Wardscorner and an inspiration to disabled people everywhere. She still lives a very active life despite her injuries and she’s happy. It makes me happy to drive by and see her out there hula hoping. Shouldn’t we have more joyful people in our town?

So this is just a plea to those that continue to call the police on her for a “noise complaint” – please stop. Let her be happy and let our hard working police force deal with serious issues.

I was in Wards Corner Satuday and witnessed part of the incident. I was more afraid for the safety of the officer than the lady. It is easy to judge the police after the fact. Without knowing this person was a local or a mental patient after the fact, I felt the policeman acted as well as he could. The person looked out of control. Cars were stopped in the streets causing more confusion. It was a tense moment. The media did not report this incident correctly.

All emotions aside, the Hoola Hoop Lady is a distraction for motorists. Very soon after her median area, is a School Zone 25MPH section that motorists need to be ready for. I think you would need to walk in the shoes of a police officer to know what they have to deal with on a daily basis.

The police didn't go track her down. They were called on a noise complaint. They would gladly rather go look for a "real" criminal but some complainer probably called 911 to whine about her.

If more people cared about their community and helped the police solve "real" crimes maybe there would be less crime. It takes more than the police to help clean up a community.

Wow, you guys are quick to attack the hardworking underpaid police officers. There just might be 2 sides to this story. I see the lady everyday and she seems pretty harmless but when they're called they are put in a no-win situation often times. Sorry neighbors but I'm just not that ungrateful. Keep up the good work officers!! Jerry, Pallister Rd

I have worked with individuals with disabilities over the past 25 years of my career and I continue to be amazed at the lack of understanding by professionals whether public servants or other groups on how to deal with folks who have suffered some type of brain injury. Norfolk PD needs a lesson on disability awareness. Pam is not hurting anyone, she has a specific routine which she employs everyday. Really, shouldn't the officers be fighting crime in wards corner instead of picking on this woman based on a citizen complaint who I am sure also has a lack of understanding about people with disabilities. On top of all this, Pam wears a medical id bracelet to identify her disabilites and the police ignored her plea, tried to hand cuff her and were unable, due to pins in her shoulders from the damage she suffered in the accident. Norfolk PD needs to hire someone to train all officers on disability awareness, I am sure this is not the first incident of this type of tragedy.

They probably held this vicious criminal with no bail. But...the baby-killer was let go on $100.00 bail. The cops should spend their time "catching crooks" and not beating on some lady who does not have a full deck of cards....

Congratulations!!! You are gentlemen and women and scholars all! Congratulations on succeeding in making our fair city of Norfolk a wonderful Utopia now. That lady was the impediment of last to the establishment of our heaven on Earth. Congratulations! Bravo Zulu! Bravo!

Great job NPD!! You were too lazy to hunt down the criminals and murderers but you were able to take down a harmless women! Wow great job! Someone should make those officers Chief of Police. They certainly would be more qualified and thats not saying much.

Nevertheless, in a civilized country our dear hula-hoop lady would find herself in a hospital and not jail.

As a citizen of Wards Corner, I pray to see here again.

She needs medical help, not police enforcement. I have met her and she is harmless. I think she lives in a nearby assisted living facility for older folks on Suburban St., and her "noise", in this instance, was probably too much for the old folks.

Disruptive maybe, but Cindy Clayton - this is not worthy of a story.

God bless her.

You've got to be kidding me!

Noise and disturbances and assault? Half of the citizens of Norfolk are guilty of both of these on a daily basis. Excessively loud car stereos, neighbors yelling and screaming, people walking down the middle of the road and late night fights are the norm in this God forsaken city and this is what we are concerned about. This woman is almost iconic in Norfolk and I've never seen her doing anything more than hula hooping let alone something illegal, which is more than you can say the drunks and the crack heads at City Park next to the zoo. Go arrest them!

I am a cop and I hoop several times a week. They will get my hoop when they pry my cold stiff fingers from it. Somebody needs to get the Hula Hoop Lady an Ipod with earphones.

Really, I don't like civil disturbances, but don't we have a crime problen around Wards Corner?

What are the priorities?

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Every time something happens people call the police. When the police come to do their job people find a way to be critical. I want all you complainers to smoke this over. The next time someone is disturbing your peace and you call the police don't complain if they don't show up.

How absolutely pathetic that the Pilot would print such a story. Extremely poor journalism. Actually, it's not even journalism.

Two minutes before my wife read me this story, she was expressing her concern for the growing crime problem in the Wards Corner area -- this after reading the article on wardscornernow.com about the robbery near DePaul.

We're Norfolk natives, and we've always defended against the stigma of this town, as it is often criticized by our 'beach' friends. Two years ago, I moved my family into the Wards Corner area in a neighborhood I've always known to be 'nice' -- a place I want to raise my family. But these past two years have been a wake up call. I've never known of so much fear and outward concern about the crime in any of my past -- 'lesser neighborhoods'. And the concern is substantiated...it seems the crime is suffocating us here...and my wife and neighbors are concerned about this growing problem...concerned for their safety in our homes during BROAD DAYLIGHT!

And then this. I have to say, not knowing ALL the details of this account (what more could it be...it's the Hoola hoop Lady for crying out loud!), still I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the Norfolk PD. If the NPD had half the ability and desire to do its job of protecting our community, we wouldn't hear of such

The police didn't start the situation. Someone called in a complaint, and they can't choose to ignore it.

Pam was a high school friend of my sister at the time of her accident. She has suffered severe trauma to her brain and is lucky to be alive. This story breaks my heart.

I not only question her arrest, but question the reasoning for printing the story, especially given the reporter was aware of Pam's brain-damage and history at the time of filing the story.

Very sad, indeed.

until we hear all the facts

maybe the police where called after her neighbors have been woken up at 3 am everyday and maybe just might be getting a little tired of it!!!!!
while she has had problems this is probly not an isolated case.i would be willing to bet that she has been talked to by other tenants and her landlord but everyone reaches a point where enough is enough.

Thanks for the entertainment.

NPD picks on everybody! Hula Hoop ladies, inline skaters, and yes those that choose to exercise their right to open carry a firearm! What more can you say?

dont you coppers have better things to than pick on little old ladies with hula hoops shame on you , ! gimmi a brake

I am familiar with Pam and her problems, I am sure this matter could have been handeled in a more civil way. A social services case worker should have been called to come to her aid. Her social skills are rough and her short term memory is a real concern. She does not have the capacity to handle situations of real stress. Why this became a police matter is beyond understanding.