Thursday, December 1, 2011

Day 4 Mr. Morrison continued

The arrests of Mr. Morrison............
The first arrest was on September 28, 1963. Jim was in Florida State (in Tallahassee.) From what I read, Jim was drunk during a football game and was making fun of the football players and some of the people attending; he was getting rowdy. Apparently, he then stole an umbrella and a officer's helmet from a police car. I have read that he resisted arrest and was being difficult for the officers that arrested him. Later on the charges were dropped and he only had to pay a small fine.





  The next "major" arrest was on December 9, 1967. The Doors were scheduled to perform at New Haven, CT. Jim went out to dinner prior to the concert and then arrived at the venue. In his dressing/prep room he met a girl. He wanted more privacy with the girl so he went into a shower stall area (the venue also served for sporting events.) Jim has said that while in the room he was just talking to the girl and a cop came in the room. He rudely told Jim and the girl that they had to leave. Jim told him that he was in the band and told him to go away. The cop got pushy with Jim and Jim tried to push him away. Then the cop maced him. The police wanted to arrest Jim then but were afraid that the large crowd would start a riot. By this time the other band members and crew heard and told the cop that Jim was the lead singer of the band. After identifying Jim the cop apologized about the incident. During their last song, Backdoor Man, Jim told a story about what happened backstage. The cops shut them down and came directly onstage to arrest him (this was the first arrest like this in music history.) He was charged with breach of peace, resisting arrest and indecent or immoral exhibition and something dumb like inciting a riot. After his arrest he was taken to the station; it seems that he was beaten up pretty badly. All charges were dropped the next day. 



Jim's next arrest was at about midnight on January 28, 1968 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Jim was arrested at the Pussycat a' Go Go for public drunkenness and vagrancy.  Apparently, Jim was beat up by the bouncers because he was smoking a cigarette like it was a joint.  One of the bouncers hit Jim over the head with a billyclub which caused Jim's head to bleed.   Chaos ensued and the cops arrived and Jim was arrested.  On the ride to the station and while being booked, Jim was livid and incited the cops who threatened to beat him up after their shift ended.








On March 1, 1969 Jim performed with The Doors at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami. Jim was extremely drunk and said some indecent things (not worthy of arrest in my opinion.) Trying to recreate the atmosphere of a Living Theater show he saw in the previous week he said he was going to expose himself. There is absolutely no proof of him exposing himself. After the concert the band sat with the cops and talked and drank. A cop was paid for his hat that Jim threw into the crowd. Everyone was having fun and there was no conflict. The Doors then went on their planned vacation. A politician heard of this concert later on and got an arrest for him and the whole ordeal started. He was charged with a felony and five misdemeanors, the felony was lewd and lascivious behavior two misdemeanors for public profanity, two of public exposure and one of public drunkenness.





Jim's next arrest was on November 9, 1969.  Morrison was booked into city jail for drunk and disorderly conduct on a flight and interference with a flight crew and attendants.  Jim and friend Thomas Baker flew on Continental Airlines to Phoenix, Arizona to see The Rolling Stones who were to play at Veterens Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 1969.  Morrison and Baker were accused of using vulgar language and throwing glasses inside the Continental Airlines aircraft while it was in flight.
Before his Arizona arrest, Arizona state officials "Blacklisted" The Doors from every playing in Phoenix again after accusing Jim Morrison of almost causing a riot during a concert on February 17, 1968 with alleged obscene remarks and gestures.

Jim's next and final arrest was on August 4, 1970 in Los Angeles, California for suspicion of drunkenness.  He was found asleep on the front porch of the West Hollywood home of Elenor Brough at 7:00AM in the morning.  She discovered Jim when she opened the door to get her morning paper.  Jim was released on $25 bail and was scheduled for court in Beverly Hills.

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