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US man arrested for overdue VHS rental

Jessie WingardMarch 25, 2016

A wanted man in the US has been arrested this week on charges that he failed to return an overdue VHS tape to a video store 14 years ago. He is due to appear in court at a later date.

https://p.dw.com/p/1IJpQ
Freddy God Fingered Film Tom Green
Image: Imago/Toronto Star/Entertainment Pictures

Police confirmed on Thursday that 37-year-old James Meyers of Concord in North Carolina was initially pulled over by police for a broken brake light.

In a video posted to YouTube, Meyers said he was taking his daughter to school when officers requested he pull over and produce his driver's license to run a check. Meyers added that the two officers made him wait for around 20 minutes before they told him he had an outstanding arrest warrant for not returning a movie to J&J Video in Salisbury, North Carolina.

"The guy brings me to the back of the car and goes: 'Sir, I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a warrant out for your arrest from 2002. Apparently you rented a movie, "Freddy Got Fingered," and you never returned it,'" Meyers said in the video, appearing somewhat dumbfounded.

In a statement on Thursday, the Concord Police Department confirmed the arrest, saying the warrant was issued in February 2002 by the now closed video rental store and signed off by a magistrate.

Instead of arresting Meyers on the spot, police allowed him to present himself at the police station later in the day, where he was served with a warrant.

VHS videokassette
Bulky VHS tapes seem like a distant memory in today's net-based movie ageImage: Imago/imagebroker

Meyers was then taken in handcuffs to the Cabarrus County Magistrates Office. Police said Meyers will be required to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of failure to return hired property.

Not returning rented property is a Class 3 misdemeanor offence in the state of North Carolina and is punishable by a fine of $200 (179 euros).

The offender is due to front court on April 27, local media reported.

Comedian Tom Green, who starred in the 2001 film "Freddy Got Fingered," tweeted: "I just saw this and I am struggling to believe it is real."

Speaking on the Australian television show 'The Project,' Green said he would be happy to pay Meyers' legal fees.

'Freddy Got Fingered' evolved into a comedy classic following its 2001 release. It tells the story of a struggling cartoonist trying to pitch an animated show to Hollywood executives.