LAKE VIEW, NY (AP) – A couple in the state of New York may have solved the mystery about who has been throwing used coffee cups in their front yard for nearly three years.
Edward and Cheryl Patton told The Buffalo News they were trying to mount a camera in a tree in front of their Lake View home to catch the phantom garbage. But only when some neighbors got involved and followed a minibus and recorded his license plate number was there an interruption in the case.
After Edward Patton called police, they waited and pulled over a vehicle driven by 76-year-old Larry Pope, who according to Cheryl Patton had worked with her and had disagreements with her over union issues.
Pope is charged with harassment and ticket given for throwing rubbish on a driveway.
“I found it very hard to believe that someone I know would do such a thing, especially at his age,” Cheryl Patton told The News.
The Pattons said littering has stopped since Pope was pulled over.
A message was left Sunday at a phone number listed for Pope.