Hudspeth County Sheriff Spokesman Tells Fiona Apple to “Shut Up and Sing”

Michael Bezjian/WireImagePublic Information Officer Rusty Fleming of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office in Texas isn’t happy that Fiona Apple has been making comments about the short time she spent at the Hudspeth County Jail. In a statement provided to ABC News Radio, Fleming has written an open letter to the singer to address the speech she made during her performance at the Bayou Music Center in Houston last Friday.

Apple claimed that she documented the actions of people at the jail who were engaging in "inappropriate" and "probably illegal" behavior, and that she would release her written account of their actions if those people in question were “interested in being a celebrity.”

“First, Honey, I’m already more famous than you, I don’t need your help,” wrote Fleming. “However, it would appear that you need mine. Two weeks ago nobody in the country cared about what you had to say, -- now that you’ve been arrested it appears your entire career has been jump-started. Don’t worry Sweetie, I won’t bill you."

Fleming goes on to say that while he’s sure that Apple is “an awesome and talented young woman,” she should “just shut-up and sing.”  In addition, Fleming referred to the previous high-profile arrests that the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office has made over the last few years. "Have you ever heard of [rapper] Snoop [Dogg], [country legend] Willie [Nelson] or [actor] Armand Hammer?” he wrote.  “Maybe if you would read something besides your own press releases, you would have known BEFORE you got here, that if you come to Texas with dope, the cops will take your DOPE away and put YOU in jail."

Authorities busted Apple last Wednesday night at a U.S. Border Patrol check point in Sierra Blanca after they found hashish and marijuana during a "routine" search of the singer's tour bus.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio