LaurieCabot is also known for her sometimes controversial behavior. There was a legal situation in the mid 1990s in which Cabot allegedly threatened local real estate agent, JanetAndrews, with her gun. Cabot denied She had ever acted in such a manner and upon further investigation all charges against Cabot were dismissed and she still retains a gun permit.
She garnered more notoriety in 2004 when SALEMPolice came to her home in order to remove her adolescent grandson over a custody issue between Jody Cabot and her former husband . Both incidents were covered by local and national press and even featured on CNN. A policeman claimed that during the incident Cabot ordered him to look into her eyes, telling him he was cursed once he did. Cabot denies sheever cursed the policeman, stating "I say it is a curse when you do bad things." This is a reference to the threefold law that whatever you do, good or bad, shall be returned to you threefold. She has steadily maintained that witchcraft is never meant to be employed to cause harm or destruction. Population: 40,407 (2000)
Many people associate the city with the SALEM Witch Trials of 1692, which the city embraces both as a source of tourism and culture—Policecars are adorned with witch logos, a local public school is known as the witchcraftHeights Elementary School, the Salem High School football team is named The Witches, and Gallows Hill, a site of numerous public hangings, is currently used as a playing field for various sports.