Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse

I really enjoyed this statement: "There was a slight delay," Hulsey
said. "That needs to be corrected."

Apparently, shoes are much more of a danger than a man with a baggy
full of gunpowder and a cannon fuse...details, people, details!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

*** QUOTE ***

http://www.times-standard.com/Storie...834286,00.html

Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
By James Tressler The Times-Standard

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - County officials call for 'protocol'
improvements

McKINLEYVILLE -- How is it that a man whose checked bag contained what
appeared to be a bomb at the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Saturday was
still allowed to board the airplane?

Why did it take airport security personnel three hours to call the
Sheriff's Department to dispose of the explosive?

These are a couple of key questions raised in the wake of Saturday's
incident, in which airport security found an apparent bomb in the
checked baggage belonging to a man bound for Miami with his wife and
infant.

The device was discovered at around 9 a.m. during routine security
checks. The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident,
possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday
they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody.

According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal
authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami
on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are
satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by
Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse -- was to be
used in conjunction with the man's professed hobby, which apparently
had something to do with cannons.

According to Gainey, the man gave the same explanation to federal
Transportation Security Administration security personnel when the
device was discovered at the Arcata-Eureka Airport. Security and
airline officials confiscated the device, but apparently both were
satisfied with the man's explanation and let him and his family
continue their journey.

Gainey said the Sheriff's Department didn't get a call from the
airport until shortly after noon, three hours after the incident took
place. An explosive expert from the department was dispatched, with
the deputies under the impression that the incident was happening that
very minute.

The Sheriff's Department ordered the terminal evacuated, and it wasn't
until deputies showed up that they found out the incident had long
since been over, Gainey said.

Sheriff's officials then contacted San Francisco International
Airport, but the man had already boarded his flight for Miami. Federal
authorities contacted the man and questioned him when he arrived in
Miami. Gainey said the man is not in custody, and federal officials
have indicated that they'll leave it to the county to pursue any
possible criminal charges. Carrying an explosive device into an
airport can constitute a felony.

Gainey said reports are being compiled and will be forwarded to the
District Attorney's Office, which has the decision on whether to file
charges.

Meanwhile, county officials on Monday were still puzzling over the
incident.

Airport Manager Jacqueline Hulsey, who started her job two weeks ago,
said she's concerned as to why the man was allowed to board the plane
and why it took so long for the Sheriff's Department to be notified.

"There was a slight delay," Hulsey said. "That needs to be corrected."

She said she'll be calling together TSA, Sheriff's Department and
airline officials in the near future to go over the incident in hopes
of providing "a protocol" for handling future situations.

Sheriff Gary Philp conceded he wouldn't feel very comfortable if he
boarded a plane knowing a bomb had been discovered in one of its
passenger's luggage.

"I'd have a few questions on my mind," Philp said. "There seems to
have been problems in this situation. Things just weren't communicated
the way they should've been. The normal procedure would be to call the
authorities and have them deal with it -- before they let the person
on the plane."

Still, law enforcement officials did praise TSA security for finding
the explosive in the first place, regardless of any subsequent
slip-ups.

County Administrative Officer Loretta Nickolaus said, however, the
incident reveals wrinkles in communications that need to be ironed out
in the new security setup established in the wake of the 9/11
terrorist attacks. Nickolaus, the county's top executive, didn't find
out about the incident until several hours after it had happened.

"It's really important that we all work together," Nickolaus said.

*** END QUOTE ***

In article ,
(The Bill Mattocks) wrote:

http://www.times-standard.com/Storie...834286,00.html

Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
By James Tressler The Times-Standard

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - County officials call for 'protocol'
improvements

McKINLEYVILLE -- How is it that a man whose checked bag contained what
appeared to be a bomb at the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Saturday was
still allowed to board the airplane?

I used to go to Humboldt State University in Arcata, and flew out of ACV
to SFO and beyond (mainly BUR or SAN) many times (all pre-9/11).
Security always disappointed me. Everyone waited in a cramped room and
was only screened -- by an airline employee -- en masse right before
walking onto the tarmac and to their plane. Thus everyone was checked at
once, in a rushed fashion. (Not to mention that you could be seen off at
a chain link fence by family members who could potentially had you
something through the fence).

Bill - I'm disappointed - a man of your experience realises surely that nail
clippers, butter knives etc are the real danger!!!



"The Bill Mattocks" wrote in message
om...
I really enjoyed this statement: "There was a slight delay," Hulsey
said. "That needs to be corrected."

Apparently, shoes are much more of a danger than a man with a baggy
full of gunpowder and a cannon fuse...details, people, details!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

*** QUOTE ***

http://www.times-standard.com/Storie...834286,00.html

Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
By James Tressler The Times-Standard

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - County officials call for 'protocol'
improvements

McKINLEYVILLE -- How is it that a man whose checked bag contained what
appeared to be a bomb at the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Saturday was
still allowed to board the airplane?

Why did it take airport security personnel three hours to call the
Sheriff's Department to dispose of the explosive?

These are a couple of key questions raised in the wake of Saturday's
incident, in which airport security found an apparent bomb in the
checked baggage belonging to a man bound for Miami with his wife and
infant.

The device was discovered at around 9 a.m. during routine security
checks. The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident,
possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday
they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody.

According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal
authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami
on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are
satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by
Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse -- was to be
used in conjunction with the man's professed hobby, which apparently
had something to do with cannons.

According to Gainey, the man gave the same explanation to federal
Transportation Security Administration security personnel when the
device was discovered at the Arcata-Eureka Airport. Security and
airline officials confiscated the device, but apparently both were
satisfied with the man's explanation and let him and his family
continue their journey.

Gainey said the Sheriff's Department didn't get a call from the
airport until shortly after noon, three hours after the incident took
place. An explosive expert from the department was dispatched, with
the deputies under the impression that the incident was happening that
very minute.

The Sheriff's Department ordered the terminal evacuated, and it wasn't
until deputies showed up that they found out the incident had long
since been over, Gainey said.

Sheriff's officials then contacted San Francisco International
Airport, but the man had already boarded his flight for Miami. Federal
authorities contacted the man and questioned him when he arrived in
Miami. Gainey said the man is not in custody, and federal officials
have indicated that they'll leave it to the county to pursue any
possible criminal charges. Carrying an explosive device into an
airport can constitute a felony.

Gainey said reports are being compiled and will be forwarded to the
District Attorney's Office, which has the decision on whether to file
charges.

Meanwhile, county officials on Monday were still puzzling over the
incident.

Airport Manager Jacqueline Hulsey, who started her job two weeks ago,
said she's concerned as to why the man was allowed to board the plane
and why it took so long for the Sheriff's Department to be notified.

"There was a slight delay," Hulsey said. "That needs to be corrected."

She said she'll be calling together TSA, Sheriff's Department and
airline officials in the near future to go over the incident in hopes
of providing "a protocol" for handling future situations.

Sheriff Gary Philp conceded he wouldn't feel very comfortable if he
boarded a plane knowing a bomb had been discovered in one of its
passenger's luggage.

"I'd have a few questions on my mind," Philp said. "There seems to
have been problems in this situation. Things just weren't communicated
the way they should've been. The normal procedure would be to call the
authorities and have them deal with it -- before they let the person
on the plane."

Still, law enforcement officials did praise TSA security for finding
the explosive in the first place, regardless of any subsequent
slip-ups.

County Administrative Officer Loretta Nickolaus said, however, the
incident reveals wrinkles in communications that need to be ironed out
in the new security setup established in the wake of the 9/11
terrorist attacks. Nickolaus, the county's top executive, didn't find
out about the incident until several hours after it had happened.

"It's really important that we all work together," Nickolaus said.

*** END QUOTE ***

According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal
authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami
on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are
satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by
Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse --

Come on Bill you just made that whole thing up didn't you.
Admit it... It can't really be true.

On 16 Dec 2003 21:49:30 -0800, (The Bill
Mattocks) wrote:

The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident,
possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday
they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody.

I going to venture a WAG that he's a good old boy from the backwoods
who grows and sells dope to local authorities and his name does not
include the word "Mohammed."

Dick Locke wrote:

On 16 Dec 2003 21:49:30 -0800, (The Bill
Mattocks) wrote:


The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident,
possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday
they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody.


I going to venture a WAG that he's a good old boy from the backwoods
who grows and sells dope to local authorities and his name does not
include the word "Mohammed."

Yeah. I am betting that if he was a skin color other than white, it
would have been an issue. Is it legal to transport this stuff by
checked baggage?