And remember, much of what we hear on the media in the first hours goes from some one who observed something (maybe) to a supervisor to a PR spokesperson who whispers to the local stringer, who sends it to the network news gatherer who give it to a writer who gives it to Rather Brokejaw, which is what we hear. Even with the best will in the world, it's not surprising if errors creep (or gallop) in.
SO. Here's my take and questions so far.
1. Back in Georgia. What did the men say, and what did Eunice hear. Frankly, I dunno. She could be dead on. They could have been serious, or joking. It could be like Emily Litella ("I didn't say Croatian Terrorists, I said Crustacean Terrine"). If she thought she heard something, she was right to report it, and let LE sort it out. [MORE IN NEXT POST]
2. Key point. Did the men admit to having been "joking." Some reports say yes. Who said so? When and how did they talk to them? Was this from a particular policeman who was there? This report came in and then faded? What's the source and the chain of reporting?
3. Were police tracking them all the way down to Florida? Why did it take so long if they were suspicious? Were they waiting at that toll booth, and they just happened to blow by it?
4. What happened at the toll booth. What is the original source of the account that they blew by it? One car, or both. First paid for second or v-v.? I haven't a clue. Especially, how far from the booth was the arrest? Did the attendant call the cops, or were the cops lurking?
5. The plates. Did someone tell the cops they were bad? Who back in Illinois? What's the final story on how bad they were. I've heard everything from no problem at all to no problem that was the fault of the men or that they should have been aware of to some problem, though minor, that was their fault. What's the truth? [POST CONTINUED]