Boxcutter in Hollowed-Out Book at TIA

Little Green Footballs ^ | Feb. 20, 2008 | Charles Johnson

[jdm]

He forgot it was there: TIA Passenger Had Box Cutter In Hollowed-Out Book.

TAMPA — A 21-year-old Clearwater man was arrested at Tampa International Airport this weekend after security personnel found a box cutter in a hollowed-out book, authorities said.

About 7:30 a.m. Sunday, airport security ran Benjamin Baines Jr.’s backpack through an X-ray machine and saw the image of a box cutter, according to a report from the Transportation Security Administration. When searching the backpack, a security officer found a book titled “Fear Itself.” The book was hollowed out, and the box cutter was inside.

After Baines was read his rights, he said his cousin had cut away the pages to make the hollow section in the book. Later, reports state, he said he had hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates. Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book.

Officers found books in the backpack titled “Muhammad in the Bible,” “The Prophet’s Prayer” and “The Noble Qur’an.” He also had a copy of the Quran and the Bible.

Several sheets of paper in the backpack included rap lyrics that referred to police, narcotics, weapons and killing. Baines told officers he is a rapper who writes his own lyrics and that rap music writers need to “play the part,” the report states.

[squidly]

This happens to me all the time, forgetting what I put in my hollowed out books.

[A_Former_Democrat]

The enemy within.

[ml/nj]

Look, if the guy just had a box cutter in his pocket, I'd say no big deal. Fine, him and forget it if he has a clean record. But this guy had it in a hollowed out book. (We all have hollowed out books, don't we.) I say he should be executed.

ML/NJ

[PGalt]

GRRRREAT job whoever that TSA employee was! America’s finest! BUMP-TO-THE-TOP!

[randog]

Baines told officers he is a rapper who writes his own lyrics and that rap music writers need to “play the part,” the report states.

Well then I guess he needs to spend 10-to-15 in the pen to earn his "street cred".

[varina davis]

btt

[kcvl]

Benjamin Baines, Jr.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I predict that within a month, new TSA rules will prohibit passengers from bringing books onto airplanes in carry-ons.

[PGalt]

Thanks kcvl for constantly expanding our frame of reference with additional information.

[southernerwithanattitude]

“oopps was that in my back pack?”

Under the jail with him!

[Cicero]

Throw away the key.

[RetiredArmy]

Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book.

[Antonello]

I predict that within a month, new TSA rules will prohibit passengers from bringing books onto airplanes in carry-ons.

Naw, more like "Pardon me, ma'am, but I'll need you to step aside, take off your shoes, turn on your laptop, and read a few chapters of your book".

[colonialhk]

Ben is clearly confussed

[TChad]

...hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates.

When faced with a felony, confess to a misdemeanor.

[RetiredArmy]

Woops, my answer disappeared!!!

Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book.

Bull s***!!!

[popdonnelly]

Who are his friends?

[popdonnelly]

“Ben is clearly confussed”

Ben is clearly screwed, and should be going to the Federal pen.

[Cicero]

If he forgot it was there, it’s because he has been messing around with terrorist plots and dreams on a regular basis, and neglected to take it out of his bag when he went to the airport.