Last week in Blue Ash, Ohio, an 89-year old woman had been arrested because she refused to return the football of the neighbor’s kid that landed in her yard. The kid’s father called the police. The police asked the grandmother to return the ball but the latter refused. Because she also refused to sign a citation, the police charged her of petty theft.

Ever since this news had been out, people have been taking sides. Who’s on the wrong? Was it the old grandma who just wanted some privacy in her own place? Were they the kids who just wanted to play and enjoy their youth? Was it the police who just did their job? Or were they the parents who were busy working to support the needs of the family?

According to the kid’s parents, the ball was bought with the $15 that their son had earned from working.

According to the old woman’s attorney, the neighbor’s kids were always throwing balls in her property despite her confiscating previously thrown balls. She is old and gets easily tired so she needed frequent rest but couldn’t do it because of the frequent intrusions by playing kids.

VIDEO - 89-Year Old Woman Arrested Over a Football

Right or wrong, the old woman is the real victim here. Even when treated with some consideration due to her advanced age, getting arrested and booked at the police station was still a terrible ordeal. This particular senior is suffering from diabetes and hypertension. The stress of having to fend off the attention from the media is bad for her poor health.

She took a $15-football that must have been landing in her yard many times. Can you imagine her running out of the house to grab the ball? No. So she must have waited for the ball to land right in front of her door where she could just pick it up. She did this to express her wish to be left alone in her own property so that she could take her much-needed rest. And also to teach a lesson to kids that are too thick-headed to understand an old woman’s feelings.

By trying to teach a lesson to the youth, grandma is facing petty theft charges with 6 months imprisonment and a fine of $1000. How fair is that? And who should teach respect to the youth? Parents should be responsible for their kids’ actions. If only they taught their young ones the right ways, incidents such as disrespect to the elderly would never have happened.