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Out-of-state solicitors cause brief, local scare
By Rayma Silvers
The Fort Scott Tribune
An encounter which at first seemed to be a simple sales pitch from a cleaning supply solicitor on Wednesday turned into a frightening ordeal for local businesswoman Geneane Dancy.
According to Dancy, shortly after 11 a.m. an out-of-state salesman entered Hammons Realty in an attempt to sell cleaning products. Dancy, who was the only one in the building at the time, said she politely turned the man down. What happened next caused Dancy to become fearful for her life. The man angrily packed up his supplies and headed for the establishment's door. When he reached the door, he said "Have a nice day" in an angry tone and exited the building. Once outside, the solicitor glared through the window at Dancy hit the side of his leg with his cleaning rag and spat out an expletive at her. Immediately after this, he re-entered the building.
"Then he came back in and demanded his pamphlet back," Dancy said.
After explaining to the peddler she had already returned his pamphlet to him, Dancy said the man began looking around the office. After a minute, he once again left the building leaving Dancy shaken and afraid, she said.
"He really freaked me out," she said. "I thought he was going to come back and kill me."
Shortly after the incident, Hammons Realty owner Phil Hammons arrived at the building. After being informed about the alarming experience, Hammons phoned the Fort Scott Police Department. While Hammons was on the phone with the FSPD, the man came back by the realty office and glared through the window once more, according Hammons.
After giving Dancy strict instructions to keep the door locked, Hammons departed once again leaving Dancy alone in the building. A few minutes later, Dancy noticed the man standing in the parking lot across the street from the building smoking a cigarette. She said she was afraid he was going to try to re-enter her building again. However, that is not what he did.
After finishing his cigarette, the peddler walked to Wall Street and entered most of the establishments on the north side of the street one at a time, trying to find someone to buy his product.
Christina Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Floor Covering, said the salesman did not like it when she declined to buy his cleaning supplies. After telling the man she was not interested in buying his product, Kennedy said the solicitor continued pressing to make a sale. She then told him she did not have time to look at his product because she was leaving for lunch. At this point, Kennedy said the man's behavior became disrespectful.
"He was really rude," Kennedy said.
John L. Jackson, a realtor with H and H Realty, also experienced the solicitor's hostility during the man's trip through the downtown area. According to Jackson, the man was very persistent, attempting to sell his products even after being told Jackson was not interested. Jackson firmly repeated his disinterest in making a purchase from the salesman.
"I could tell he was upset," Jackson said. "He wasn't a real reliable looking fellow."
According to Fort Scott City Clerk Diane Clay, a city ordinance adopted in 1975 states it is illegal for anyone to solicit houses or business without a solicitors, canvassers and peddlers license. This also includes people who sell goods from mobile units such as the Tropical Snow trailer or ice cream truck which operates during the summer. In addition, anyone who wants to conduct a short-term sale such as a tool sale must apply for a license.
"When someone wants to solicit, they have to come in and apply for a license," Clay said.
In order to be given a solicitor's license, the person must first have a State of Kansas Sales Tax ID. Next, Clay said he or she must pass a brief background check.
According to Fort Scott Police Lt. Travis Shelton, there were four solicitors who were confronted by local police on Wednesday. Although none of the four were from Kansas, the solicitor's identifications listed states of origin as Nebraska, North Carolina and Illinois. The group of peddlers did not have an actual business name, but rather were listed as freelance and independent.
The group's supervisor, Jessica Johnson, Omaha, Neb., was given a ticket for unauthorized solicitation and later fined $100 for the group's actions.
Shelton suggested local businesses might want to display "no unauthorized solicitation" signs on the doors to their buildings to deter solicitors from attempting to sell to them.
According to Clay, solicitors who have a license to sell products are required to carry that license with them while they are working. She said she would advise any area resident who is approached by this type of person to ask to see that person's license. If the solicitor cannot produce the license, it might be a good idea to contact local law enforcement and let them know there are unauthorized solicitors in the area.
Clay said there have only been seven solicitor's licenses sold in Fort Scott so far this year.