Woman Who Turns in Abusive Husband’s Guns to Police, Then Lakeland PD Arrest Her
Now her friends have gone to bat for Courtney Taylor Irby with gofundme account raising over $13,000 to help with her Legal and Living expenses.
Irby was in fear for her life on June 15. Her husband had tried to run her off the road and had been arrested for it. He was facing a domestic violence charge, Irby had a restraining order and he wasn’t even allowed to use, possess or carry firearms. He was in jail but was soon to make bond.
To protect herself, Irby drove to his apartment, got past the locked front door and collected the guns she knew he had, according to police records. Then the she turned the weapons over to police – and they arrested her on theft charges and armed burglary.
Her husband, Joseph Irby, was released on bail that day but Irby ended up spending six days and five nights in jail for trying to protect herself.
But the community is rallying around her. More than 24 supporters were in the courtroom for her bail hearing on Thursday, including family, friends, her pastor and other church members.
Attorney John Morgan and Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani are also sticking up for her. They are asking Polk County State Attorney Brian Haas not to pursue the charges brought against her.
“She was literally asking for help,” Eskamani told The Washington Post. “We know with so many survivors of domestic violence that asking for help is the biggest challenge. We just demonstrated that if you ask for help, you might be arrested.”