Cheyenne Police: Don't Give Panhandlers Money

Update: Police Department spokesman Officer Kevin Malatesta says the homeless man who was arrested in this case did not have his money confiscated, despite Facebook rumors to the contrary. Malatesta also says the man was arrested in Cheyenne on Saturday for public intoxication, not for panhandling. Malatesta says that while police discourage panhandling in the city, it is not a crime unless traffic is being obstructed.

Cheyenne Police are asking people not to give homeless people and other panhandlers money.

A post on the Cheyenne Police Department facebook page cites the case of a transient arrested for public intoxication on July 22. Police say when the man was arrested he had collected $234.94 in just a few hours of panhandling (the money is shown in the above photo).

Police say money given to panhandlers often goes for alcohol and would be better spent donating to charities such as the Comea Shelter.