Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions

[Rob Lister]

Remind me not to move to Baltimore...

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore City police arrested a Virginia couple over the weekend after they asked an officer for directions.

WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins said Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook, of Chantilly, Va., got lost leaving an Orioles game on Saturday. Collins reported a city officer arrested them for trespassing on a public street while they were asking for directions .

"In jail for eight hours -- sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet," Kelly said.

"It was a nightmare," Brook said. "I was in there thinking I was just dreaming and waiting to wake up."

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/9229472/detail.html

[Lance]

How the hell can you " trespass" on a public street? It's public!?!

Collins said the couple was released from jail without being charged with anything.

They need to get a lawyer. That is a false arrest if ever there was one.

[Gullible Jones]

That is absolutely ridiculous... If it's not bogus, it definitely suggests very bad things about the officer's sanity.

[Dragon Star]

This calls for a...

[Мастер]

I once heard a story about someone who was arrested for driving with fake license plates. The officer knew they were fake, because they said "West Virginia" and there is no such state :P I would love to know if there is any truth to the story...

[Dragon Star]

You would be floored as to how many people don't know that West Virginia is a state, I lived there for 13 years and have heard all the stories...

[Lonewulf]

You would be floored as to how many people don't know that West Virginia is a state...

...It is?

I knew I should have studied harder in Geography class.

(J/K)

[Dragon Star]

It's ok Lonewulf, there is always the 3rd grade. :P

[pmcolt]

This is going to blow your mind, but there's also a New Mexico! :P

Let that be a lesson to anyone traveling in Baltimore: stay off the streets!

[Superluminal]

I knew there was a West Va. but where is East Va.?

I remember hearing during the Atlanta Olympics in 96, some one from New Mexico ordered tickets to the games. They were charged an international fee by some ticket agent because New Mexico is a foreign country.

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

Apparently the only East in American history was the province of East Jersey.

[Мастер]

I remember hearing during the Atlanta Olympics in 96, some one from New Mexico ordered tickets to the games. They were charged an international fee by some ticket agent because New Mexico is a foreign country.

I hope the agent told that individual to get his passport and visa in order before leaving for Atlanta...

[Enzo]

Sorry Lonewulf, Harder is not a state either.

[N C More]

To respond to the original post, something just isn't *right* about this incident. Either the young couple are lying (they said, or did more than they are telling), or these officers have some sort of issue (two white kids in a predominately black neighborhood?). I don't know which way the wind is blowing here, but something just isn't *right*, in my opinion.

[Мастер]

To respond to the original post, something just isn't *right* about this incident. Either the young couple are lying (they said, or did more than they are telling), or these officers have some sort of issue (two white kids in a predominately black neighborhood?). I don't know which way the wind is blowing here, but something just isn't *right*, in my opinion.

Are you suggesting that a news report may not have been accurate or complete?

Seriously, though, there's always something more than meets the eye to these incidents. But what?

[pumpkinpie]

An article posted later that day; the police officer refuted their story of course.

Officer Preston said: ""The driver, Mr. Kelley, became argumentative and began attempting to tear the citation out of the book ... and I had to take it out of his hands."
"Ms. Brook then became hostile stating ... 'I don't want to talk to you.' I then advised them to leave or they would be arrested for trespassing."
"I then instructed Ms. Brook to take the vehicle and leave the area. Ms. Brook stated no."
Preston described Brook as "uncooperative, refusing to give her name or address ... she was arrested and transported to Central Booking as a Jane Doe."

The article also included the couples' responses to the statements above. It's a lot of he said, she said. I bet both sides are exaggerating. We definitely don't have a perfect record for cops here in Baltimore, but I'd like to believe most do the right thing.

Llance--don't you love the name Llara?

[Lance]

Llance--don't you love the name Llara?

WeLlLl, I supposed I shouLld.

[Lonewulf]

An article posted later that day; the police officer refuted their story of course.

Officer Preston said: ""The driver, Mr. Kelley, became argumentative and began attempting to tear the citation out of the book ... and I had to take it out of his hands."
"Ms. Brook then became hostile stating ... 'I don't want to talk to you.' I then advised them to leave or they would be arrested for trespassing."
"I then instructed Ms. Brook to take the vehicle and leave the area. Ms. Brook stated no."
Preston described Brook as "uncooperative, refusing to give her name or address ... she was arrested and transported to Central Booking as a Jane Doe."

The article also included the couples' responses to the statements above. It's a lot of he said, she said. I bet both sides are exaggerating. We definitely don't have a perfect record for cops here in Baltimore, but I'd like to believe most do the right thing.

I'd have to say that what the police officer said happened is much more plausible. Arresting someone for asking for directions is not only a flagrant (and useless!) abuse of authority, but also one that would cause the police officer and the entire police force of the area to come under fire. It would be a ton of risk, for nearly nil benefit -- except the ability to act like an asshole.

[Enzo]

I agree, the original story sounded fishy and one sided. In fact it sounds very similar to what a former poster here is saying elsewhere, "I was banned for simply asking questions."