Posted on 05/17/2006 12:00:24 PM PDT by fjsva
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.
Welcome to Maryland!
Baltimore's finest in action. Another city to avoid like the plague.
If this is true, I'll never visit Baltimore.
See. I tell my wife "I ain't stoppin' to ask for directions. We'll get there sooner or later...."
Armed and Dangerous in Baltimore!
Wonder what the racial makup of the players involved?
Speaking of the plague...isn't Baltimore the clap capital of the world?
You and me both.
Our finest in action.
That may have sped the release, and will help in the investigation. If there's any truth to this story, Baltimore needs a couple of replacement policemen.
I have GPS Nav in the Vette. :-)
Yah,sure
Have a nice day and come back now ya'll hear!
I think the tourism board ought to put this out in their publications. Come visit and get a free stay in jail!
Sounds like this officer needs three days off a month.
Or maybe thirty days off per month.
I hope than can and do sue.
Frggin idiots in Baltimore.
more like OFF permenantly.
And then they wonder what makes people hate cops........
Lawsuit time! I hope this costs the city millions of dollars. Maybe they'll think twice about hiring total ^ssholes from then on.
They're not too good at public relations there in Baltimore, are they? After they put 'em in the clink they should have said "Have a nice day!".
They are looking into the incident. They want to know why charges were not brought.
There's something very strange about this story. I would love to hear the officers' side before making any judgements.
To protect and serve. Not.
I once was issued a ticket for 'passing a police car'. The JBT yelled at me for 5 minutes "You NEVER pass a police car! NEVER!". I just kept my mouth shut, but the thought-bubble over my head was reading "Sorry about your penis".
If not entirely accurate I assure the bulk of it is true. Baltimore is a sewer, don't go there. Avoiding Maryland in general is a good policy, I grew up there and moved when I couldn't stand it anymore.
I believe every single word of this. Not only should the cops be fired, but so should their superiors. I'm sure that this isn't the first such incident.
Officer Natalie Preston, nee Keystone.
A female cop with a major league Napoleon complex practically sprinted a block to get in my face and start screaming that she was going to throw me in jail if I didn't get to stepping.
SEE! SEE! There`s a reason guys won`t stop and ask for directions!
How can one be arrested for trespassing on a public street?
The land of peasant living.
Baltimordor is its captial.
First, you don't want to get lost driving around Camden Yards. Second, anyone who has lived in this city will not be surprised by the police behaving in this manner. Baltimore: Where the hell is.
"Maybe they'll think twice about hiring total ^ssholes from then on"
Then they will have to recruit from outside of Baltimore exclusively.
...how can anyone live in Maryland?
***
Hey! Baltimore was once a great city, but it is being destroyed because of liberals like Mayor Martin nO'Malley and their policies. Baltimore is not the whole state. I live in Kent County.
Since it WASN'T MENTIONED in the story, I'd be willing to bet the first officer was BLACK and the two victims were WHITE.
The best parts of maryland are in West Virginia.
Recently,a New Hampshire (or Federal) court ordered a NH Police Chief to stop arresting illegals and charging them with tresspassing (in the US).
A female cop with a major league Napoleon complex...
&&
Experience leads me to suspect that this type of arrogant attitude is a prerequisite for women to join the B'more police force.
"Since it WASN'T MENTIONED in the story, I'd be willing to bet the first officer was BLACK and the two victims were WHITE.
Gee, Ya Think?
Cause if it was the other way around, it would have been on National News!
I think yours is a very reasonable assumption.
Talk about "copping a bad attitude!" Man, these cops in Balmer really do suck big time. Someone ought to smack this cop in the wallet with a pink slip, and fire her ass. Sounds typical of a Baltimore coppette!
Cops always seem annoyed when asked for directions.
This is outrageous!
I want an explanation. I can't tell at all why these people were arrested!
Not always.
If you screw up and end up in the Philly Badlands, the cops will give you directions and advice.
The advice?
"Don't stop at any stopsign, and if you come to a red light, look both ways and cruise through, now GET THE HELL OUTTAHERE!"
Viva Zero Tolerance.
This is Mayor O'Malley's policy - telling the cops NOT to bother with illegals.
Sounds like an affirmative action hire.
I wondered the same thing.
Well . . . at least they weren't obliged to disrobe and then be photographed.
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