Photo shows why you shouldn't give money to panhandlers, police say

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A police station Facebook post warning drivers about panhandling is going viral Friday.

The Cheyenne, Wyoming, police department posted a public safety announcement saying officers arrested a man for public intoxication after he collected hundreds of dollars from a few hours of asking for money.

The police department wrote: "Yesterday, July 22, we arrested a transient for public intoxication. This is a person we frequently deal with, but we want to illustrate that there are better ways to help the transient population than to give them money for panhandling.

RELATED: Drivers shocked as man who looks like a panhandler gives out $50 bills on street 

This person collected $234.94 in just a few hours of asking for money. Rather than feeding someone's alcohol addiction, you can donate directly to local charities such as the Comea Shelter where your money will assist the homeless in a much more effective way."

Yesterday, July 22, we arrested a transient for public intoxication. This is a person we frequently deal with, but we...

Posted by Cheyenne Police Department on Sunday, July 23, 2017

The post has been shared nearly 47,000 times and more than 7,000 people have commented on it.

Officials with the police department added this to the comments after several questions about the man, the money and the circumstances surrounding the arrest:

“We want to clarify several things regarding this post. This person was arrested for public intoxication, having an open container of alcohol, urinating in public and refusing to obey commands. Subsequent to that arrest, we logged in his property for safekeeping. Of course this money is his and will be returned to him when he is released from jail. The money is counted and all of his property is inventoried so that it can be returned to him upon his release. This is standard for every arrest we make in which property is held for safekeeping.”

--------------------------------------------------------

Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.

Sign up today. It's Free.