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Florida Woman Wears Public Apology Sign for Hitting Cop

By Kamika Dunlap on January 13, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A Florida woman hit a cop and now everyone knows.

Alexandra Espinosa-Amaya stood outside the Orlando Police Department with a homemade sign, apologizing for hitting a police officer. That was her punishment.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the 24-year-old college student agreed to wear the public apology sign as part of her no-contest plea to two misdemeanor charges: simple battery and resisting an officer without violence.

The public apology sign read: "I battered a police officer. I was wrong. I apologize." She drew it on a blue poster board decorated with flowers.

Espinosa-Amaya was punished for pushing Sgt. Andrew Brennan more than a year ago. The battering occurred just after midnight on Espinosa-Amaya's birthday Nov. 29, 2008. She said she and her sister were kicked out of the Dragon Room after she attached a balloon to her wrist.

The public apology sign was an unusual punishment but agreeing to penance has managed to keep her.

But getting around the public shame may be the most difficult part.

"It's humiliating, and it doesn't teach me anything," Espinosa-Amaya said outside the courtroom before she headed to the police station. "But if Officer Brennan is happy and feels a little better, I'll do it."

To make matters worse, some people drove by and waved. One driver stopped to take a picture of Espinosa-Amaya standing in front of the police station with a sign hanging from her neck.

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