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Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions
POSTED: 7:23 am EDT May 17, 2006
UPDATED: 10:52 am EDT May 17, 2006
BALTIMORE -- 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.
There's a reason I stay the fuck outta B-more whenever possible.insein said:She seriously needs to be relieved of duty. This is beyond ridiculous. I bet nothing happens to her either.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/9229472/detail.html
The ClayTaurus said:There's a reason I stay the fuck outta B-more whenever possible.
Well, multiple reasons, actually.
Usually, if you're not in on the heroin game, you're fairly safe, so long as you don't put up a fight when you're getting robbedAbbey Normal said:I believe Baltimore just gave up it's "highest crime rate" crown to Camden, N.J.
The ClayTaurus said:Usually, if you're not in on the heroin game, you're fairly safe, so long as you don't put up a fight when you're getting robbed
Mr. P said:I know there are bad cops, but something is fishy about this story, something I just cant put my finger on..maybe its the pulling 40 feet forward after being stopped that makes me suspicious.
Or, is it the fact they had to drive under I-95 after leaving the game to even get to Cherry Hill?
Yea think?BaronVonBigmeat said:They probably pulled 40 feet forward so that they could stop and figure out where the heck they were. And it's not impossible to drive under a major freeway like that if it's poorly marked. Or perhaps there aren't any entrance ramps for a long ways. Houston has some freeways like that--you get into downtown, you see the freeway, but you can't figure out how to get on it.
Or, a middle-class suburban couple decided to watch a ball game, and then indulge in some sweet sweet crack cocaine afterwards, so they drove to the seedy part of town. That's a logical theory too.
you ever been to b-more?Mr. P said:Yea think?
Been there...Ya just gotta pay close attention when yer from outta town. Take that from someone that has traveled the whole Country. It's true.The ClayTaurus said:you ever been to b-more?
let's just say the freeway signs are.... lacking.
I agree. Anyone who ends up somewhere and can't even retrace the steps they took to get there... not much sympathy.Mr. P said:Been there...Ya just gotta pay close attention when yer from outta town. Take that from someone that has traveled the whole Country. It's true.
I know. Like I said, there are bad cops. But that 180 degree turn is priceless.The ClayTaurus said:I agree. Anyone who ends up somewhere and can't even retrace the steps they took to get there... not much sympathy.
Seriously though, I don't doubt this is on the cops. B-More is a stupid city sometimes.
