Posted on 05/17/2006 12:00:24 PM PDT by fjsva
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."
Collins reported it was a nightmare ending to a nearly perfect day. He said the couple went to a company picnic and watched the Orioles beat Kansas City. It was their first trip to Camden Yards and asked two people for directions to Interstate 95 South when they left.
Collins said somehow they ended up in the Cherry Hill section of south Baltimore. Hopelessly lost, relief melted away concerns after they spotted a police vehicle.
"I said, 'Thank goodness, could you please get us to 95?" Kelly said.
"The first thing that she said to us was no -- you just ran that stop sign, pull over," Brook said. "It wasn't a big deal. We'll pay the stop sign violation, but can we have directions?"
"What she said was 'You found your own way in here, you can find your own way out.'" Kelly said.
Collins said the couple spotted another police vehicle and flagged that officer down for directions. But Officer Natalie Preston, a six-year veteran of the force, intervened.
"That really threw us for a loop when she stepped in between our cars," Kelly said. "(She) said my partner is not going to step in front of me and tell you directions if I'm not."
Collins reported the circumstances got worse. Kelly pulled 40 feet forward parking next to a curb and put his flashers on while Brook was on the phone to her father hoping he could help her with directions. Both her parents are police officers in the Harrisburg, Pa., area.
"(Brook's father) was in the middle of giving us directions when the officer screeched up behind us and got out of the car and asked me to step out. I obeyed," Kelly said. "I obeyed everything -- stepped out of the car, put my hands behind my back, and the next thing I know, I was getting arrested for trespassing."
"By this time, I was completely in tears," Brook said. "I said, 'Ma'am, you know, we just need your help. We are not trying to cause you any trouble. I'm not leaving him here.' What she did was walk over to my side of the car and said, 'Ok, we are taking you downtown, too.'"
Collins said the couple was released from jail without being charged with anything. Brook is now concerned the arrest may complicate a criminal background check she's going through in her job as a child care worker.
Collins said police left Kelly's car unlocked and the windows down at the impound lot. He reported a cell phone charger, pair of sunglasses and 20 CDs were stolen.
Baltimore City police said they are looking into the incident.
Sounds like the authority went to the policemen's heads.
They are supposed to be helping people - not harassing.
Mayor O'Malley's finest.
Daddy should have told her to get some badge numbers.
They were lucky. I think Baltimore is a leading contender for Muder Capitol, USA.
Limp french fries are the WORST!
Baltimore needs to be replaced in toto.
SUE, SUE, SUE THE BASTARDS!
Tampa FL has Atitude training classes for hyper arrogance for females aspiring to be police officers.
More than likely, the tow company has 'arrangements' with certain police officers - managers - administrators.
TomTom, should I turn left here?
http://www.tomtom.com/
Daddy should have told her to slip the cops some cash. This is how things get done in Bawlmer Hon from getting city contracts to getting a patrol car to getting your trash picked up I know as a former Balti-moron.
Cherry Hill is no place for these two nice white kids to have ended up lost in. They are lucky they got off with a night in jail and a ransacked car at least they are not on a slab in the morgue on Lombard Street. Even if the cops thought they where there to score some drugs, as the police department tried to use as an excuse for what happened, that's no excuse for how they were treated though. I guess they were guilty of driving while white.
Back in 69 right after the MLK riots, we were on our way from Harrisburg PA to Myrtle Beach SC for our version of a National Lampoon Vacation. My dad got lost in Baltimore in a recently riot ravaged, burned out neighborhood. My dad was a big, tough Viking guy and WWII vet and I remember he looked scared. He flagged down a city cop who was more than glad to give us directions on how to get the Hell out of there.
I think that explains the "why's" right there:
There, that should clear it up completely! /sarc
She better not ever ask him to ask for directions, EVER.
i'd be willing to bet you are correct sir
"Why we do not go to MD"
hmmmm, not even a trip to the shore for
peel and eat shrimp and crabs? :(
NO!
(i'm having seafood withdrawls already) :(
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