That kind of ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- happens in the U.S. as well, it's just not reported as much. I mean, really, how was the guy supposed to get home? Walk?
Where I live, there's this bridge that connects the city to a then unincorporated section across the river. Whenever police "arrested" someone, they would often give him the option of jail or leaving the city. If he chose leaving, he would be taken to the bridge where he would be forced to walk across on foot. On the other side a different police officer would be waiting, usually with a readied firearm. When the person got close enough, the officer would tell him he wasn't welcome in the unincorporated town. The poor ass would turn around only to see the city cop with a shotgun.
Given the choice of being shot by one cop or the other, the ass would usually give up and be taken to jail or (yes, this actually happened) jump into the river and hopefully have enough strength to get out of sight before climbing up whatever bank he chooses. Apparently, it was done often until the city absorbed the unincorporated side.