Philly flyer arrested trying to file a TSA complaint
Feb 5, 2015, 2:44 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: AA ExPlt, UA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 356
Unfortunately, this is all too characteristic of some in law enforcement.
I am a middle-aged, professional, white guy. Once, I was hand-cuffed and put into a police car while walking along a city street one day (probably 7-8am) because I "mathced the description" of someone who had been reported minutes earlier as having vandalized several cars on another nearby street.
Luckily, I was taken to the persons who had lodged the complaint and it was confirmed that I wasn't the perp. However, the few minutes leading up to that point (including being Mirandized; patted; cuffed; and hauled off in a squad car) made me realize that all the things that I'd been told by my parents as a kid about law enforcement being on your side weren't necessarily true.
While I know there are two (or more) sides to any story, my experience and the one in the article, and many others like them, make me really really question whether the police are telling the full, true story in cases like Michael Brown and the many others of recent times.
I am a middle-aged, professional, white guy. Once, I was hand-cuffed and put into a police car while walking along a city street one day (probably 7-8am) because I "mathced the description" of someone who had been reported minutes earlier as having vandalized several cars on another nearby street.
Luckily, I was taken to the persons who had lodged the complaint and it was confirmed that I wasn't the perp. However, the few minutes leading up to that point (including being Mirandized; patted; cuffed; and hauled off in a squad car) made me realize that all the things that I'd been told by my parents as a kid about law enforcement being on your side weren't necessarily true.
While I know there are two (or more) sides to any story, my experience and the one in the article, and many others like them, make me really really question whether the police are telling the full, true story in cases like Michael Brown and the many others of recent times.
Feb 5, 2015, 3:02 pm
#47
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
"At trial, Kieser was the first and only witness to testify. Municipal Judge Felice Stack acquitted Vanderklok of all charges within minutes of hearing Kieser's testimony."
I'm curious to know further details of Kieser's bogus testimony which led this rational Judge to an instant acquittal without having seen the video or hearing from any other witnesses.
This story is sickening.
I'm curious to know further details of Kieser's bogus testimony which led this rational Judge to an instant acquittal without having seen the video or hearing from any other witnesses.
This story is sickening.
Feb 5, 2015, 3:30 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: singapore, the netherlands
Programs: SQ PPS, KLM Platinum, Air Berlin gold, HHonors Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 81
In Singapore, contrary to what the sensationalist media portrays, we're friendly to everyone until they break the law or disrupt the status quo. It's a great country to live in long as you're not a free speech advocate or a graffiti artist 
Note: does not reflect the writer's personal views, for which you'll have to buy him a drink.
Note: does not reflect the writer's personal views, for which you'll have to buy him a drink.This is an awful, infuriating story and I really hope the media attention forces someone at the TSA and police to be held accountable for this gross miscarriage of authority... the fact this even made it to trial is appalling. Unfortunately, this story does not seem to be unique and is only one of countless similar events which have made it to the press and not resulted in any meaningful change in training and tone at US airports (be it at the TSA or CBP).
The Singapore example above is notable. Singapore immigration officers tend to smile and they also offer a candy dish for you to help yourself. It's just such a stark contrast to how they view their roles versus CBP in the US. Yes, in Singapore, they are professionals and doing a serious job, but they feel they can do that without intentionally being intimidating and with the trappings of a paramilitary-esque police force.
I get it CBP officers, you're defending the border. But you are also the first point of contact with the US and employees of the US government, and are thus particularly representative of the country. Being professional, doing your job well and also being friendly and welcoming to legitimate visitors and returning citizens are not mutually exclusive.
The Singapore example above is notable. Singapore immigration officers tend to smile and they also offer a candy dish for you to help yourself. It's just such a stark contrast to how they view their roles versus CBP in the US. Yes, in Singapore, they are professionals and doing a serious job, but they feel they can do that without intentionally being intimidating and with the trappings of a paramilitary-esque police force.
I get it CBP officers, you're defending the border. But you are also the first point of contact with the US and employees of the US government, and are thus particularly representative of the country. Being professional, doing your job well and also being friendly and welcoming to legitimate visitors and returning citizens are not mutually exclusive.
Feb 5, 2015, 4:39 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,078
The state bar doesn't say how or why they came up with that recommendation so little weight can be given to the bar's recommendation.
Feb 5, 2015, 5:55 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
"At trial, Kieser was the first and only witness to testify. Municipal Judge Felice Stack acquitted Vanderklok of all charges within minutes of hearing Kieser's testimony."
I'm curious to know further details of Kieser's bogus testimony which led this rational Judge to an instant acquittal without having seen the video or hearing from any other witnesses.
This story is sickening.
I'm curious to know further details of Kieser's bogus testimony which led this rational Judge to an instant acquittal without having seen the video or hearing from any other witnesses.
This story is sickening.
Feb 5, 2015, 5:56 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
That would imply she made a mistake or bad decision in dismissing the charges. ????? I don't think she did.
Last edited by Randyk47; Feb 5, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Feb 6, 2015, 5:21 am
#53
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
The TSA blog is now saying that the passenger had something in his bag that looked like a pipe bomb so that's why he was arrested.
"pipe bomb"
"pipe bomb"
Feb 6, 2015, 5:24 am
#54
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
In my comment in response I told him I had pipe in my house and wanted to know if I should have it taken out.
Feb 6, 2015, 7:52 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,078
I wouldn't put it that way. I would say "dancing around and covering up the clerk's actions." He tries to pain a scary scenario, and leaves out information. He says the clerk called the police "based on the contents of the bag and the interaction with the passenger" - leaving out the fact that the contents of the bag were known, and that the interaction with the passenger was that the passenger wanted to file a complaint. He also presents a picture of a piece of pipe like that in which the passenger stored his watch, above (gasp) a picture of an actual pipe bomb.
In my comment in response I told him I had pipe in my house and wanted to know if I should have it taken out.
In my comment in response I told him I had pipe in my house and wanted to know if I should have it taken out.
Feb 6, 2015, 8:04 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
I wouldn't put it that way. I would say "dancing around and covering up the clerk's actions." He tries to pain a scary scenario, and leaves out information. He says the clerk called the police "based on the contents of the bag and the interaction with the passenger" - leaving out the fact that the contents of the bag were known, and that the interaction with the passenger was that the passenger wanted to file a complaint. He also presents a picture of a piece of pipe like that in which the passenger stored his watch, above (gasp) a picture of an actual pipe bomb.
In my comment in response I told him I had pipe in my house and wanted to know if I should have it taken out.
In my comment in response I told him I had pipe in my house and wanted to know if I should have it taken out.
Feb 6, 2015, 8:53 am
#58
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
Thank God we have Blogger Bob to straighten things out for us.
Your tax dollars at work. He should have worked for Bush during the
Scooter Libby scandal; he's a much smoother pathological liar
than Ari Fleischer. It seems to be so natural.
Your tax dollars at work. He should have worked for Bush during the
Scooter Libby scandal; he's a much smoother pathological liar
than Ari Fleischer. It seems to be so natural.
Feb 6, 2015, 12:23 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,643
Mike
Feb 6, 2015, 12:43 pm
#60
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Here's the complaint Mr. Vanderklok filed:
https://consumermediallc.files.wordp...02/tsasuit.pdf
So if his bag was given back to him, when and why did the TSA remove the PVC capped pipe to photograph it? Or did they? Is this a manufactured pipe for the purposes of trying to justify the screener's actions?
If they did remove it after it was returned to Mr. Vanderklok, isn't that theft if Mr. Vanderklok had been turned over to the Philadelphia PD?
https://consumermediallc.files.wordp...02/tsasuit.pdf
"After a thorough check of his bag, and after TSA personnel were sure that there was nothing improper, dangerous or illegal in his bag, the TSA supervisor gave Mr. Vanderklok his bag back...."
If they did remove it after it was returned to Mr. Vanderklok, isn't that theft if Mr. Vanderklok had been turned over to the Philadelphia PD?
