A Spirit Lake man’s decision to allow his neighbor to use his city water led to a court battle that played out this week in the Idaho Court of Appeals.

Mike Freitas, 46, was cited by a Spirit Lake police officer in 2012 for illegally providing water to a neighbor’s residence.

The 12-year Spirit Lake resident said it all began after he lent his hose — that was connected to a spigot at Freitas’ home — to a neighbor. Shortly after doing so, Freitas said police officers came to his home and informed him that what he was doing was illegal. They provided Freitas with a written copy of the city ordinance he was accused of violating.

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