Bad idea but not arrest-worthy

News item: You've got to read this story for yourself. It starts like this: A $3 dare Sunday began with a swim in the Ohio River and ended at the Kenton County jail.

The Covington police charged this fellow with disorderly conduct for "inducing panic" by swimming across the Ohio River -- which is not illegal -- and scaring some Reds fans.

What happened to the days when the police handled such situations by telling you not to do anything that stupid again and sending you home? Do we really need to waste the time of the courts with this case?