Being arrested for suspicious behavior?
 

I didn't really realize this until now (and apologize in advance if this has been discussed beforehand), but the statement on TSA.gov's front page (the "blotter" thingy) claiming that X number of people has been arrested for either suspicious behavior or fraudulent documents, really bugs me.

Last time I checked, in America, you don't get arrested for suspicious behavior alone - there has to be probable cause. Do people really get arrested simply because of suspicious behavior?

Thanks for the clarification... :confused:

Welcome to America 2.0?? :mad:

Can you provide links to these stories?

My understanding of the law is that, absent other circumstances, suspicious behavior does not equal probable cause. Same as what you say above.

As far as the fake documents-- those who used them should have taken the SSSS and just said they have no ID.

To Ari: It's right there on the TSA front page. I'll give you the excerpt:

* 27 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 24 firearms found at checkpoints
* 20 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
* 22 disruptive passengers on flights

TSA.gov

And how many of those reported numbers above count the person more than once?

Sounds very odd to me. Maybe they classify stuff to make it sound better? Suspicious behavior = drunkenness?

More so the editor for that web page thinks that "suspicious behavior" is good enough for an arrest with the new and improved interpretation of the US Constitution. If you don't have to prove a charge, you don't have to bring "suspicious suspect" before a judge at a hearing.

I think that fairly exemplifies what TSA thinks and in what direction they want things changed.

Oh I agree with you, it's a crock of ..... Just wondering how they're attempting to wiggle around that one, while attempting to sound like they're doing something. I thought we all agreed on that. :)

Suspicious behavior (behavior generally considered outside established societal norms) is not a crime, so you can't be arrested for it. It may, however, be part of the articulable facts used to establish reasonable suspicion for the stop as well as the PC for the arrest.

But it's not a crime, in and of itself.

If you recall, immediately after 9/11, thousands of innocent people were arrested, interrogated and many deported because they were reported to be behaving "suspiciously". Race and perceived religious affiliation were the only factors in targetting people during this mum and apple pie all-american pogrom.

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

Being deported isnt the worst thing in the world. If you are a guest of the United States they can send you home at thier pleasure. Living here isnt a "right" as too many people feel it is.

And if Syria is not your home in the first place? And if you weren't even living here but only in transit at JFK to catch a flight to Canada? Did it please DOJ to send Maher Arar to Syria (which both Syria & US government hid from Canada for 2 weeks)?

This is how people can be treated even when they don't live here, nor want to. What would you suggest to this Canadian citizen?

And by the way, War of 1812 was started when the British Royal Navy was impressing US merchantmen on the high seas to involuntarily serve on their ships. Obviously the US was willing to go to war over this kidnapping and trampling on the rights of transit. Should Canada consider the same?




September 19, 2006
Canadians Fault U.S. for Its Role in Torture Case

By IAN AUSTEN
OTTAWA, Sept. 18 — A government commission on Monday exonerated a Canadian computer engineer of any ties to terrorism and issued a scathing report that faulted Canada and the United States for his deportation four years ago to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured.

The report on the engineer, Maher Arar, said American officials had apparently acted on inaccurate information from Canadian investigators and then misled Canadian authorities about their plans for Mr. Arar before transporting him to Syria.

“I am able to say categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offense or that his activities constituted a threat to the security of Canada,” Justice Dennis R. O’Connor, head of the commission, said at a news conference.

The report’s findings could reverberate heavily through the leadership of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which handled the initial intelligence on Mr. Arar that led security officials in both Canada and the United States to assume he was a suspected Al Qaeda terrorist.

The report’s criticisms and recommendations are aimed primarily at Canada’s own government and activities, rather than the United States government, which refused to cooperate in the inquiry.

But its conclusions about a case that had emerged as one of the most infamous examples of rendition — the transfer of terrorism suspects to other nations for interrogation — draw new attention to the Bush administration’s handling of detainees. And it comes as the White House and Congress are contesting legislation that would set standards for the treatment and interrogation of prisoners.

<snip>

Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company
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In this matter, DOJ was not the agency that arranged for the deportation of Mr. Arar to the country of his birth. Much of his story abort torture is delusional and never happened. He has attempted to file suit but can't possibly win.

'tis a rather poor attempt at comparing apples and oranges...
As for Canada attempting anything of the kind, surely, you jest as Canada is at least one-half American by now ....:rolleyes:

___________________

"The Middle Eastern states aren't nations; they're quarrels with borders."
P. J. O'Rourke

You can be arrested for disorderly conduct at nearly any time for doing anything or nothing. It's one "crime" that's very loosely defined.