Fiona Apple, Sheriff Spat: She Should 'Shut Up and Sing,' Rusty Fleming Says

As Spinner previously reported, Fiona Apple was arrested last week in Texas for hashish. Possessing the concentrated cannabinoid is a felony in the Lone Star state, so the "Criminal" singer spent an evening in a Hudspeth County jail.

Over the weekend, Fiona spoke out about her arrest while performing in Houston, accusing four members of the sheriff's department of treating her rudely. "I wrote it all down with your names and everything you did and said, stupidly thinking that I couldn't hear or see you. I then ripped the paper up, but not before I encoded it," the singer told the crowd in a bizarre and confusing diatribe.

Now, the sheriff's department that nabbed Fiona's drugs has responded to her claims. Besides saying that he is more famous that Fiona Apple, the department's spokesman Rusty Fleming warned the singer (and others) to keep their drugs far from the Texas border area [letter below via TMZ].

First, Honey, I'm already more famous than you, I don't need your help. However, it would appear that you need mine....

Two weeks ago nobody in the country cared about what you had to say, -- now that you've been arrested it appears your entire career has been jump-started. Don't worry Sweetie, I won't bill you...

Next, have you ever heard of Snoop, Willie or Armand Hammer? Maybe if you would read something besides your own press releases, you would have known BEFORE you got here, that if you come to Texas with dope, the cops will take your DOPE away and put YOU in jail... [Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, and actor Armie Hammer were all arrested for marijuana possession in Sierra Blanca, the same Texas town that Fiona was -- Ed.]

Even though you and I only met briefly in the hallway, I don't know you but I'm sure you're an awesome and talented young woman and even though I'm not a fan of yours, I am sure there are thousands of them out there, and I'm sure that they would just as soon you get this all behind you and let you go back to what you do best-so my last piece of advice is simple "just shut-up and sing."

Sincerely

Rusty Fleming

Will Fiona finally reveal what was in those lock boxes? Or will this story have to end on Rusty's bitter note?

Fiona Apple Arrested