Police say 9-year-old Semaj Booker, left, found his own way to San Antonio.
Posted on 01/18/2007 6:03:03 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
The boy's odyssey was long, but it was nearly over. Determined to flee his new home in Washington state, Semaj Booker, 9, already had stolen a car and sent police on a high-speed chase, boarded a Southwest Airlines flight in Seattle the next day, landed in San Antonio and was heading for the home stretch — a final flight to Dallas, where his old home lay — when local airport officials halted the escapade, police said.
Staying at a local children's shelter until authorities decide what to do next, the fourth-grader — charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor — now has police in Lakewood, Wash. hoping his odyssey actually has ended.
"Our fear is he could walk away, steal a car and drive to Dallas," Lakewood police Lt. David B. Guttu said.
Should history be a guide, he'd be able.
Accused last month of stealing a car in Tacoma, Wash., Semaj seized the same opportunity Sunday when he noticed an Acura idling outside a neighbor's house in Lakewood, Guttu said.
Leading police on a highway chase at speeds up to 90 mph, the boy on two occasions maneuvered around spikes that officers tossed in the car's path, Guttu said. The engine blew when Semaj took an exit; the car rolled over a curb and coasted into a tree.
"I think the kid might have had it in low gear," Guttu said.
The boy's mother told the Associated Press she believes her son learned to drive from playing video games on a PlayStation.
Police surrounded the car, but the boy refused to unlock the doors or show his hands. An officer broke a window, unlocked the door and immediately recognized him as a frequent runaway, Guttu said.
Police detained Semaj, but a juvenile facility declined to take him because he was too young, Guttu said. An officer contacted the boy's mother, who said she did not want her son at home and "no one was helping her deal with him," according to a probable cause declaration.
Released to his family, he tried another form of transit the next day.
According to a statement released Wednesday by Southwest Airlines, Semaj told an employee at the airline's ticket counter in Seattle that he was 12 and requested a boarding pass because, he claimed, his mother already was in the boarding area.
"The young man's information matched a paid, ticketless reservation for the flight," the release stated. "Based on the information that he gave us, he was issued a boarding pass."
The boy's mother reported him as a runaway when he disappeared Monday, said Fred Wist, juvenile division chief for the Pierce County prosecutor's office.
"This is a highly unusual situation that is still being investigated," the release stated.
Semaj boarded the flight, stopped in Phoenix and arrived in San Antonio that evening, said David Hebert, spokesman for the San Antonio International Airport. He then walked to the gate of a flight that would have taken him to Dallas, the city in which his grandfather lives.
Airline officials at the gate called police when they realized Semaj did not have information that matched a reservation for the Dallas flight, Hebert said.
Airport and San Antonio police questioned the boy for about 11 hours, Hebert said. Refusing to reveal his identity until the end, Semaj finally caved around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The Bexar County Juvenile Detention Facility would not accept Semaj because he is too young, Guttu said. So police took him to Girls and Boys Town, a local temporary shelter, where he remained on Wednesday, according to Guttu.
The Pierce County prosecutor's office on Wednesday filed three charges against Semaj — eluding police, taking a motor vehicle without permission and driving without a license.
Wist said authorities are gathering more information in lieu of immediately issuing a warrant and hauling the boy back north.
"I feel fairly comfortable that if he were to flee his present location and his whereabouts were unknown, that we at that point would issue a bench warrant for his arrest," Wist said.
Wist added it was unclear on Wednesday where the boy's journey would end. Should he return to Lakewood, it's unlikely he'll like it, Guttu said.
Semaj was "incredibly motivated to get to Texas," Guttu told the AP. "He doesn't want to live in Washington state."
But this one has more depth to the story.
Except I can't see how or where the kid got a boarding pass.
The boy's mother told the Associated Press she believes her son learned to drive from playing video games on a PlayStation. Can anybody say "Grand Theft Auto"?
And read the part where police grill the kid for 11 hourse before he even gave them his name. No doubt in my mind.... this kid will make one hell of a criminal some day.
Well,I can't blame him for that.
The boy's mother told the Associated Press she believes her son learned to drive from playing video games on a PlayStation. Can anybody say "Grand Theft Auto"?
***
We had a child in my neighborhood drive the family car several blocks before he crashed (luckily, neither he nor anyone else was hurt). And he was only 3 years old.
Ginned one up on the computer? But then, how'd he get a working bar code for the scanner?
With a name like Semaj, I'm assuming theye were bending over backwards not to offend him.
I'd go to extremes to stay out of Washington State too.
"Based on the information that he gave us, he was issued a boarding pass."
Would that be classified as "Baby Grand Theft Auto"?
Just a thought.
LOL
Seriously, it's amazing what kids can learn without anyone consciously teaching them.
I saw his mom on TV. She said they are going to take care of things,he is going to live with her sister.
I only hope he has a better life there. His mom looked as if she could care less, but maybe maybe she is exhausted after raising a kid like this but she only has herself to blame.
Right but how many points did he score?
While I'll agree she is certainly at least partly to blame, some kids are just total wild-asses and always will be regardless of parental involvement.
Holy cow!
What does this 9 year old look like? Jeepers... I've got a boy age ten and I know literally hundreds of 9-10 year olds from coaching sports and helping at school and I cannot think of a single one that could pull this off.
99% of them aren't even big enough to drive a car, at least not without wrecking in a short distance, and they simply aren't savvy enough to do this.
jw
I used to live in Washington and I ran away to Texas too.
What is he running away from and running to? If a child thinks he has been taken from someone he loves, it's"war". I know. I didn't steal a car but ran away once too. I took my sisters with me though. Probably why I got caught:')
My question is ... why isn't this obviously creative and talented kid being groomed for something important?
Does Jack Bauer have a replacement in the wings? If not, I have a suggestion ...
"They hate you if you're clever,
and they despise a fool."
And consider the fact that James spelled backwards managed to dodge TWO spike strips.
How many adults - who have driven for 20 years even - could do that?
The kid has potential based on his desire to get out of Washington state and to Texas, but his well-developed criminal skills as a liar and thief identify him as a future, if not current, democrat voter. Heck, he probably voted several times for democrat candidates in each of the last two elections. We don't want him in Texas.
Poor guy, wonder why he wants to get back to texas so badly - family?
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