- Sep 13, 2001
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So as I'm sure most of you know I went to Aruba this past summer. My trip was supposed to be from June 16th - June 20th. But it was actually June 17th - June 21st. Here is why.
I was at the airport going through security with my bookbag of a bunch of carryon stuff. The alarm goes off so they put it through again. It goes through again and the alarm goes off so they tell me they have to search my bag. I say sure no problem. So they search it and a friggin switchblade is in there. I had no clue it was in there. I cleaned that bookbag in and out before I went on my trip, except the 1 little pocket on it. It was my junk bookbag that i had from college. I even had a ticket stub in there from the first UMD game at the Comcast center, which was I think in '01. And most of all, it was a movie prop switch blade, that was pretty much a busted switch blade.
I told them "oh i didnt know that was in there, just toss it." and they told me to hang on. next thing I know, 3 police officers are walking over, and 1 is pulling her cuffs. she tells me to turn around and tells me I'm under arrest. Of course I tried to explain myself and just shut up. I looked at my GF and I felt so bad cause she was teary eyed as I was walking away. I didn't know what to do for her, for the first time I was completely helpless to her.
So I end up being locked in a holding cell for 5 hours, freezing cold, trying to sleep on a metal bed with no mattress. I hadn't slept all night cause I stayed up to get a ride to the airport at 3:30am since our flight was at 6:30am. All I could think about was my GF.
I was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, which is a felony charge. apparently in maryland, a switch blade is as bad as a gun. EVEN though it wasn't even a fully functional switch blade that was a movie prop.
Around 10:30am I finally leave and they transfer me to this other place where I talked to the police commissioner. I explained to her the situation, told her I never got in trouble, where I was going, etc. She literally did this pitiful laugh kind of like "oh man you just got caught in the wrong position at the wrong time." i could see it in her eye that she knew I was so innocent and such a good kid. So she lets me go with no bail and I get a ride back to the airport and meet up w/my GF. We end up going to Miami for 1 night then to Aruba from the 17th - 21st.
So when I get back, its attorney time. So I found an attorney whom used to work with the state prosecuting attorney, but now he was a defense attorney. He had a decent price and after he heard the story, he told me I would never see a jail cell or anything. that relieved me. he told me every month he talked to the prosecuting attorney discussing 4-5 cases such as mine, and tries to get it off w/out ever having to go to court, but having some type of punishment or something.
So I hear back from him a few days later after he met with the prosecuting attorney and said that if I did 16 hours community service, all charges would be dropped. But I still would hav to go to court on my court date after I do this, just to get it all said and done with. That date was tomorrow, friday, november 4th.
This past tueday I get a call from him saying to fax the letter saying I finished my service hours to him, and that he was going to see if he could make it so I don't even have to go to court.
I get a call this morning at 11:30am and get the verdict ... all charges are dismissed and i do not have to go to court! I was SSOO relieved. I have this very VERY relieved feeling in me right now. I am just so happy it is over.
So that is my story of my first runin with the law ever. It was stupid STUPID mistake by me to not check EVERY nook and cranny of my bookbag, so yes, I know it was my fault. I still think some discretion should have been used when they arrested me. but they were just doing their job.
Even after I was arrested, and back at the airport, 2 of the cops who were involved in the whole incident (not the arresting officer though) came up to me and talked to me. They felt so sorry for me and realized that while they were just doing their job and I had a switch blade on me, that I was not a bad kid or anything like that. One of them even told me exactly what I should do with the attorney and all that stuff, and that once i explain my situation in court, nothing should happen to me. He also told me about a few good diving spots in Aruba since it was his favorite vacation spot.
I felt so stupid being cuffed and taken off infront of all these parents, children, and my GF especially. it was so humiliating. I ended up spending about $1250 on attorney and this violation fee I had to pay to the airport.
Well I am just very VERY relieved right now to say the most. I definitely learned my lesson to triple check EVERY bad I take on the plane with me next time.
I was at the airport going through security with my bookbag of a bunch of carryon stuff. The alarm goes off so they put it through again. It goes through again and the alarm goes off so they tell me they have to search my bag. I say sure no problem. So they search it and a friggin switchblade is in there. I had no clue it was in there. I cleaned that bookbag in and out before I went on my trip, except the 1 little pocket on it. It was my junk bookbag that i had from college. I even had a ticket stub in there from the first UMD game at the Comcast center, which was I think in '01. And most of all, it was a movie prop switch blade, that was pretty much a busted switch blade.
I told them "oh i didnt know that was in there, just toss it." and they told me to hang on. next thing I know, 3 police officers are walking over, and 1 is pulling her cuffs. she tells me to turn around and tells me I'm under arrest. Of course I tried to explain myself and just shut up. I looked at my GF and I felt so bad cause she was teary eyed as I was walking away. I didn't know what to do for her, for the first time I was completely helpless to her.
So I end up being locked in a holding cell for 5 hours, freezing cold, trying to sleep on a metal bed with no mattress. I hadn't slept all night cause I stayed up to get a ride to the airport at 3:30am since our flight was at 6:30am. All I could think about was my GF.
I was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, which is a felony charge. apparently in maryland, a switch blade is as bad as a gun. EVEN though it wasn't even a fully functional switch blade that was a movie prop.
Around 10:30am I finally leave and they transfer me to this other place where I talked to the police commissioner. I explained to her the situation, told her I never got in trouble, where I was going, etc. She literally did this pitiful laugh kind of like "oh man you just got caught in the wrong position at the wrong time." i could see it in her eye that she knew I was so innocent and such a good kid. So she lets me go with no bail and I get a ride back to the airport and meet up w/my GF. We end up going to Miami for 1 night then to Aruba from the 17th - 21st.
So when I get back, its attorney time. So I found an attorney whom used to work with the state prosecuting attorney, but now he was a defense attorney. He had a decent price and after he heard the story, he told me I would never see a jail cell or anything. that relieved me. he told me every month he talked to the prosecuting attorney discussing 4-5 cases such as mine, and tries to get it off w/out ever having to go to court, but having some type of punishment or something.
So I hear back from him a few days later after he met with the prosecuting attorney and said that if I did 16 hours community service, all charges would be dropped. But I still would hav to go to court on my court date after I do this, just to get it all said and done with. That date was tomorrow, friday, november 4th.
This past tueday I get a call from him saying to fax the letter saying I finished my service hours to him, and that he was going to see if he could make it so I don't even have to go to court.
I get a call this morning at 11:30am and get the verdict ... all charges are dismissed and i do not have to go to court! I was SSOO relieved. I have this very VERY relieved feeling in me right now. I am just so happy it is over.
So that is my story of my first runin with the law ever. It was stupid STUPID mistake by me to not check EVERY nook and cranny of my bookbag, so yes, I know it was my fault. I still think some discretion should have been used when they arrested me. but they were just doing their job.
Even after I was arrested, and back at the airport, 2 of the cops who were involved in the whole incident (not the arresting officer though) came up to me and talked to me. They felt so sorry for me and realized that while they were just doing their job and I had a switch blade on me, that I was not a bad kid or anything like that. One of them even told me exactly what I should do with the attorney and all that stuff, and that once i explain my situation in court, nothing should happen to me. He also told me about a few good diving spots in Aruba since it was his favorite vacation spot.
I felt so stupid being cuffed and taken off infront of all these parents, children, and my GF especially. it was so humiliating. I ended up spending about $1250 on attorney and this violation fee I had to pay to the airport.
Well I am just very VERY relieved right now to say the most. I definitely learned my lesson to triple check EVERY bad I take on the plane with me next time.
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