Dancing Dan’s charges dropped
by gamercyrus on Jun.27, 2009, under Journalism
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This is an excerpt from the Stony Plain Reporter / Spruce Grove Examiner June 26, 2009 Edition.
Dan said he vows to never dance again in the Stony Plain or Spruce Grove area again.
Dancing Dan can now groove to his music knowing that he wont have to appear in court anymore after stunting charges against him were dropped June 17.
The Spruce Grove RCMP met with Daniel Corey Booth, known as Dancing Dan for his performances on the corner of streets, and came to an agreement that saw the charges dismissed.
Booth was to appear on July 23 at the Stony Plain Provincial Court.
“We’re certainly not telling him he can’t dance,” said Sgt. Jim Martin of the Spruce Grove RCMP detachment.
“We never had any issues with Dan dancing. It just some of the complaints we are receiving.”
Martin said it was never their intent to run Booth out of Spruce Grove, only that they were acting on these complaints including reports of Booth standing on the guard rail on Hwy 16A, which if he were to fall would put him and motorist in danger.
Other complains police received were from passing motorist believing that Booth was having a medical episode when he would do a dance routine lying on the ground, or that he was staged at a major intersection for extended periods.
“He pretty much agreed that those things he would stop doing and still be able to dance and continue what he does, so it’s just a matter of modifying some of his behavior, which really results in the complaints,” Martin said.
Booth’s popularity created a media storm of coverage and support from people who enjoy his dancing antics. The whole issue started on June 5, when Booth was dancing on the corner of Calahoo Rd. and Grove Dr. near the Spruce Grove Composite High School. Police stopped Booth and ordered him to appear in court on charges of stunting, which rules on whether or not someone is a safety distraction to motorist.
After the charges were dropped, Booth wrote on his Facebook page that “it has been thrown out but I know I will never go there again because I have to follow the rules that they told me to do if I’m there but I said no I will not do what they are asking from me so I will only dance in the city for the rest of my life.”
One lingering question remains.
Booth garnered a great deal of monetary support from the public over the fine. In the end however, he was only given a court appearance with no monetary penalty. The question remains as to the fate of the money.
