Madness - 78 year-old man charged for fake grenade

[sorrowmonkey]

Fake grenade found at Bradley


Clearly, it wasn't in his carry-on luggage, or it wouldn't have been curbside, and he's probably already be in jail. So, he was arrested for breach of peace for possession of a fake grenade (in his checked luggage?) on public property? Did he threaten someone with it? If so, why isn't he charged with Threatening instead (a more serious crime)?

My gut feeling is that the cops are prosecuting this guy for being stupid and wasting people's time. Is it a good idea to pack a fake explosive device in your luggage? No. Is it a crime? Apparently. Should it be? You can pack firearms, knives, ammunition, etc. in your checked luggage.

This is just madness.


I seriously think that we should take "Breach of Peace" off the books in Connecticut. Something like every third arrest in West Haven is for "Breach of Peace", and if you look at the definition, it's basically anything that made anybody uncomfortable. How long will it be before being a Conservative is a "Breach of Peace"? Dressing funny (i.e. SCA)? Being black (arguably already a "Breach of Peace" in some communities)?

Let the cops find a real charge that means something (i.e. assault, threatening, criminal possession) or let people go. I'm tired of seeing people prosecuted for bullshit stuff at the police department's discretion.

Comments

gah

[darthluna.livejournal.com]

a fake grenade is a paperweight.
Now on that level, toenail clippers are forbidden, and perfume in a grenade shaped bottle was forbidden and removed from the duty-free shops.

Maybe its getting silly. Lets face it, any half-clever terrorist will shape thier bomb like a laptop and have a 50-50 chance of it getting aboard.

Seems like scary shapes in checked luggage could be checked/removed/forbidden. But arresting an eldery man for bringing what may have been a prized reminder of past service?

If you think it's going to escape his luggage and he'll be able to fool everyone with it, make him send it home or give it up.

Unless he smacked TSA guy around with it, arresting him is just dumb. Waste of time and resources that can be put to better use.

Re: gah

[nrawling.livejournal.com]

I really try not to imagine half-clever terrorists or I will just quit going outside. As it is even time I look around at a security precaution, I see the folly of the whole exercise.

I don't have the full story, but if he smacked around the TSA guy, he'd be in jail. I really think that the only explanation is that they just arrested him for being in possession of something that scared them.

A really clever terrorist would get a job as an airplane mechanic. Gah.

Re: gah

[ferriludant.livejournal.com]

Airplane mechanic takes a lot of training, though of course has fantastic access.

Less training and similar access: work for one of the companies which services the planes.

Even less training, though less access - work for one of the food vendors on the concourse. I've seen those guys push their carts past security without even a cursory search.

Re: gah

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

That amazes me.
but you are right, I have seen it too.
argh...