Madness - 78 year-old man charged for fake grenade

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.

MTA Searches

Just out of curiosity, has anyone actually been searched by the cops while using an MTA service? Seen someone searched, even? I walk past tables with cops and wand scanners every day and I've never seen them actually search anyone. If you're going to pay four cops to stand by a table in a subway station, shouldn't you ask them to actually have them search some people? Otherwise, you should probably just send them back to the bar or Bloomberg's personal security entourage.

I know there was a report last year of a guy who was arrested boarding the LIRR with a knife and expandable baton, but I haven't seen anything like actual searches in NYC.