‘Reasonable time' defines when you can mow lawn in Oklahoma City

Police or members of the public can sign a complaint alleging that part of the ordinance was violated.

Gage, who is black, was argumentative with officer Kylie Turner, who is white, called her a racist and used a slur for black people during the incident last week, Turner wrote in a police report.

Turner reported Gage “continued to yell and cuss” throughout her contact with him, spurred by his neighbor's call to police.

Turner handcuffed Gage and put him in the back of her car, then cited him and released him at the scene after conferring with her supervisor, Stewart said.

Gage admitted telling Turner he thought she was “acting racist” and said he thinks he may have been treated differently if he were white, but otherwise downplayed the role of race or his alleged unruly behavior.

“I don't see why I had to be handcuffed and thrown in the back of the car,” Gage said Thursday.

Gage's house has a lawn in slightly better shape than many of the other drought-ravaged lawns on his middle-class street in the 2500 block of NW 33.

He said he knows all but one of his neighbors well, has mowed at odd hours for years and didn't know anyone would be upset.

He faces a maximum fine of $500, plus fees and court costs, if he's convicted.