Motorist Arrested in New Canaan Is Appealing Parking Ticket That Led To Confrontation, Criminal Charge

The 24-year-old Norwalk woman arrested in June following an altercation downtown with a parking enforcement officer—one of the incidents that has led to New Canaan purchasing body cameras for those municipal workers—is appealing the ticket she received for parking in a handicapped space.

Here’s the handicapped spot that the Norwalk motorist had parked in that prompted the issuance of a ticket. Credit: Michael Dinan

Chanel Grant said in an appeal to the New Canaan Parking Commission that she had pulled into the only available space so that a friend in the car could re-snap a child into a car seat in back.

After receiving a ticket, Grant also was arrested for breach of peace, police have said. Grant said in her appeal letter that she filmed the entire incident. Her criminal case has been statutorily sealed, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records. Grant was issued a $100 ticket for parking in a handicapped zone at 11:52 a.m. on June 18, and charged with breach of peace 12 minutes later, records show.

Here’s the full text of Grant’s appeal letter:

“I was sitting in my car as my friend was leaned into the backseat adjusting her son’s car seat, with my hazard lights on in the only clear available parking spot, a handicap parking spot while my friend re-snapped her son in his seat when a parking agent went to walk up and place a ticket on my car in which I was calming explaining to her while I was sitting there and she insisted on antagonizing me and stand in front of my vehicle and refuse to move and call the police because I said I refused to pay the ticket which technically she should not care being it would be a burden to me because she issued it at that point. I also have a three minute video clip of her refusing to move after my numerous polite attempts asking her to move from standing in front of my vehicle. The attempt to have her move failed after me asking several times on video and the conversation escalated to a complete shouting match from parties. I was given a breach of peace and am not only filling a complaint for the ticket patroller antagonizing me but as seen in the video bullying me by laughing and refusing to move knowing I wouldn’t use my anger and hit her with my car like some angry people would in that situation. She was beyond unprofessional but also a bully.”