Mission resident Sigrid Oberheiden was shopping at London Drugs at the Junction Mall last month when she was arrested on a trumped-up charge of shoplifting during the Elks Club's annual Bail for Jail fundraiser.
The 90-year-old's arrest was pre-arranged by her daughter, said Roy Archer, past president and chief arresting officer for the Mission Elks. "She was a darling and had a good sense of humour about it."
Oberheiden tried to plead her case while holding hands with the judge, but it was fruitless, recalled Archer.
Oberheiden, dressed in black and white stripes, was put in jail along with about 12 others throughout the day until they raised enough money to bail them out.
Oberheiden was locked up for about half an hour at the Elks clubhouse with only a telephone to call friends and family for bail money.
During that time, she attempted an escape by sawing the bars with a nail file, said Archer. "She also tried waving a Canadian flag, but that didn't work either."
In the end, Oberheiden raised about $300 for the non-profit organization. A total of $3,400 was collected during the fundraiser. They money will be used to provide scholarships for local students.