A night in New Orleans jail turns into month of misery for 2 Ohio men

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | September 25, 2005 | George J. Tanber

[learner]

What began as Paul and Robie's Excellent Adventure has turned into Journey to the Twilight Zone.

Paul Kunkel and Robie Waganfeald, of Toledo, Ohio, chums since childhood, were returning from a seven-week summer vacation Aug. 26, when they stopped in New Orleans for a night of revelry in the French Quarter.

A few too many drinks, a stumble and fall on Bourbon Street and the appearance of a dispute that the men say was overblown resulted in misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges against them and an overnight stay at the Orleans Parish Prison.

[PeteB570]

I can only shake my head at the story.

There is no place you can start without coming back to a complete failure at the local level.

I'm sure there are many thousands of stories similar to this but they will all be swept under the rug because we must assign all things bad to President Bush.

The two lads should be eternally grateful that things turned out as well as they did. It could have been much worse for them, like dead.

[NonValueAdded]

Two Ohio teachers, that is ... who else can take a seven-week vacation?

[seacapn]

I wonder if there are provisions in the LA state constitution about the length of time someone can be held on a misdemeanor charge without being released or facing trial.

[DUMBGRUNT]

A less then excellent adventure!

Forrest Gump knew it best "stupid is as stupid does"!

[Molly Pitcher]

What a story! Too bad they were separated. That didn't help...

At 44, and 39, they were hardly "lads" tho...lol.

Oh! It's all Bush's fa....

[skaterboy]

Poor guys..my heart weeps

[VastRWCon]

sad story, but could be a great movie.

[Recon Dad]

Nothing of this surprises me, except that at their ages they should grow up. The cops in New Orleans are real good at beating up on tourists and those they know are easy marks. When it comes to actually stopping the street crime in the areas outside the Quarter they are AWOL.

[Jackknife]

"Don't worry 'bout it......You kids'll be outta here tonight."

[csvset]

Medication for anxiety and stress were left behind at Kunkel's hotel.

What the ? This guy needs drugs for anxiety and stress and he's a school teacher? Hoo boy.

[nuconvert]

"This guy needs drugs for anxiety and stress and he's a school teacher? Hoo boy."

and he drinks while taking his meds.

[Senator Goldwater]

If he drank from the floodwaters, he would be dead.

[PeteB570]

Two older men who are school teachers, single (?) and partying in NOLA. There may be more to this story than we want or care to know.

[csvset]

Something just ain't right about these two.

[nuconvert]

I'm sure there is and maybe going thru this awful experience has taught one or both a lesson of some sort?

[Reactionary]

The prison guards just left them to drown when Katrina hit?

I smell a class action lawsuit the likes of which Nagin has never seen.

[Zacs Mom]

Utes will be utes!

[robomurph]

My thoughts exactly.

[Fido969]

Something just ain't right about these two.

Oh, now just you wait - they're victims - VICTIMS, don't you understand!

Don't you go "blaming the victims"!