Demarcus Dickerson, the man Memphis drivers know as Watermane for years of selling water and Gatorade at Poplar Avenue and East Parkway North, is back home after the Shelby County District Attorney's Office dropped the charges that put him behind bars. His arrest this week set off an outpouring of support from regulars who rely on his drink stand during hot commutes, with some gathering at his usual corner to chant his nickname.
Dickerson was arrested after police said they found him selling drinks in the street, according to Action News 5. Officers had told him to move onto the sidewalk for safety reasons and not return to the street, Action News 5 reported in its initial coverage of the arrest. Nearly four hours later, officers driving through the area said they saw Dickerson back in the roadway at the same intersection and took him into custody for obstruction of a highway or passageway, per that same report.
By Wednesday, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said the charges had been dropped, explaining that after reviewing the facts and circumstances, prosecution was not warranted. Dickerson has sold drinks at that corner for years, and word of his arrest spread quickly online. Stunned commenters on social media rallied behind the man they call the Gatorade Man, according to WREG, after hearing about what happened to him.
Family Steps In While He Was Away
While Dickerson was in custody, his brother Tony took his place at the intersection, and supporters showed up chanting “Free the Watermane!” according to Action News 5's reporting. Tony told the outlet the brothers started selling water when they were young to help support themselves and their family, and that the work has since grown into something bigger than just earning a living. He described it as a positive presence in the community, and the station reported that community supporters brought him cases of water while he covered the corner.
WREG's report similarly noted that although Dickerson was not at his usual intersection Wednesday, his friend Tony Defell held down the fort in his absence. Dickerson's drink stand, known as the Dehydration Station, was featured in an earlier Local Memphis profile.
A Familiar Face at a Busy Corner
Memphis drivers rallied behind Dickerson at Poplar Avenue and East Parkway North this week, and the response suggested many simply want him back at his familiar spot. Garrett Angelici said Dickerson has become part of the routine for people who regularly pass through the intersection, and that he is trying to start a business and make a name for himself. Another supporter, Joe Calhoun, said Dickerson should be allowed to make a living legally without bothering anyone.
Dickerson sells drinks to passing drivers at the intersection.
What the City's Vending Rules Say
Street vending in Memphis is governed by city and county rules that require transient vendors to obtain both a Transient Vendor License and a Transient Vendor Permit from the Shelby County Clerk's Office, according to the City of Memphis. A separate city FAQ instructs people seeking to sell on the street to contact Memphis/Shelby County Code Enforcement for permit questions. It remains unclear whether Dickerson's specific activity required a permit or whether he held one, and that detail has not been addressed in any of the public reporting on his arrest.
Whether Dickerson has returned to his corner since his release has not been confirmed. What is clear is that officers responded to a complaint and later found Dickerson back in the roadway; his arrest briefly became a citywide talking point, with a brother filling in, a crowd chanting his nickname, and prosecutors ultimately deciding prosecution was not warranted.
