57/300r/AppalachianTrail•Posted byu/HOOORAYTODDEPISODE12 hours agoWarning: avoid Damascus; problem officer targeting hikers📷

I wrote a Guthook comment to this effect, but thought I should share it here as well for maximum exposure. All hikers should know to avoid Damascus to whatever extent possible, and keep their activities there to a quick in and out to resupply and leave. There is a police officer in Damascus who is known to target hikers for various petty crimes. Yesterday I was released from jail after being held for 12 hours on suspicion of public intoxication after this officer alleged he saw me consuming beer near the town’s Dollar General. After speaking about this incident with several locals, including the staff at Broken Fiddle, I’ve learned that I am far from the first hiker victimized by this officer, and even one of the CO’s at the jail mentioned he “loves bringing in you hikers”.

I’ve retained an attorney who says my public intoxication case will likely be dismissed as I was never given a sobriety test, field or breathalyzer, and there was no “inciting incident” since I was not being loud or disorderly. Regardless, this has been an extremely stressful experience that I would not wish on anyone, hiker or otherwise. I have consumed a lot of beer outside over the course of my multiple thru hikes, and never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would result in a criminal charge, especially not in the town that hosts Trail Days. It is a shame the town has allowed this officer to target hikers in the way he clearly is, but until this problem is dealt with I highly recommend spending your time and money elsewhere.