Panhandler Lying About Being Disabled Veteran Who Lost Everything In Fire Arrested

Police say a panhandler in Madison lying about being a disabled veteran who lost everything in a house fire was arrested Sunday afternoon. Madison police say officers have attempted to educate 73-year-old Richard J. Caucutt of Madison about not panhandling in medians and the Median Safety Ordinance, but when that didn’t work, they started citing him. When that didn’t work, they started arresting him for sitting on a lawn chair in the median near East Washington Avenue and North Blair Street. Police say Caucutt holds a sign indicating he is a disabled veteran whose house has burned down, but he has told officers he is a retired federal employee on a pension. He lives in a home near where he panhandles, and his home has not been damaged by fire.