AUBURN — A woman who has preached and shouted on Toomer’s Corner for years was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with disorderly conduct, Auburn police said.
Tian Guihua, 59, is known to students and downtown regulars simply as “Ruth.” She is a familiar sight several days a week on the corners around Toomer’s Drug Store, holding a sign and calling out to passers-by.
The arrest drew a mixed reaction downtown. Several students told WTVM they had long expected it, while others questioned whether an arrest was warranted. One downtown employee said the responding officer told him he could hear her from another block. A “Free Ruth” refrain began circulating among students within a day.
The disorderly conduct charge is a misdemeanor under Alabama law.
Source: WTVM
Opelika Daily News — Thursday Report, Sept. 17, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
