A member of the Arlington Police Department showed a bit of mercy for a teenager who was caught smoking marijuana outside of a local movie theater. 

He could have very well arrested this teen, but instead he tried to do something better.

Arlington officer Eric Ball was working an off-duty job when he caught the young man quickly throwing away a cigarette that reeked of pot. The teen was reportedly respectful to the officer, so Ball gave him the option of 200 pushups in lieu of going to jail.

Arlington police spokesman Lt. Christopher Cook told Star-Telegram, "He could have very well arrested this teen, but instead he tried to do something better."

I agree. Rather than leaving a nasty mark on his record and undoubtedly changing his life for the worse, Officer Ball decided to teach this young man a lesson instead of punishing him.

Plus, now he's buffer for it!

The teenager's mother thanked Officer Ball. When giving him a hug, she told him she would have made her son do more pushups.

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