Posted on 01/08/2009 12:16:36 PM PST by traumer
(KMOV)- A St. Louis man who was jailed and charged with making a threat about a shoe bomb was released Tuesday.
Michael Shafermeyer, 30, was arrested Saturday boarding a flight at Lambert Airport Saturday. After spending 3 ½ days in jail, he spoke with News 4 to give his side of the story.
Shafermeyer said he was flying to Maryland to get married and because he was anxious about the wedding and nervous about flying, he had a few drinks before getting to the airport.
His friends describe him as a guy with a non-stop, quirky sense of humor.
When a flight attendant asked him to close his laptop after boarding, Shafermeyer says he was just trying to make a joke when he asked her, “Are you the one who checks for shoe bombs?”
He said within minutes federal agents whisked him off the plane and he spent the next 2 ½ days in solitary confinement at the St. Louis County Jail.
The final day in jail, he was put in general holding with 20-30 other people, who he said stood and gave him a standing ovation when he first walked into the room.
Shafermeyer said he’s charged with making a false bomb report.
(Excerpt) Read more at kmov.com ...
As a frequent flyer with over 2 million miles, please allow me to clarify:
Never EVER EVER say the “b” word even NEAR an airport, much less in one.
In fact, I am so paranoid about it I don’t even say it at work or home.
Very very dumb man. Frighteningly dumb.
Bet he doesn’t make that mistake again.
3 1/2 days in jail seem excessive. Stupid comment — absolutely. Should he have been removed from the plane and questioned — yep. However, it seems silly for the feds to hold him for 3 + days unless there was something really suspicious about this guy.
But he didn't make a false bomb report.
Right or wrong, innocuous or not, you just don’t say stuff like that at the airport.
I was watching “Airline” the other day and this one idiot who got bumped said on the jetway after being denied boarding, “I hope this plane crashes and you all die.”
Not surprisingly, he not only was denied all boarding that day but he was permanently barred from all SWA flights for the rest of his life.
And rightfully so. I would have kicked his ass.
Shafermeyer. Must be the name.
Dumbass.
You have to wonder what his DU name is...
If his last name was Muhhamad he would sue the TSA....
Open mouth....place shoe in mouth....with foot attached.
Immaterial.
Politically correct speech vill be rewarded.
Politically incorrect speech vill be punished.
Pliz report to zee nearest re-education center
I used to fly four or five times per year. Now, I just drive. If the drive is less than 12 hours, I save a ton of money.
If its longer than 12 hours, I do what I have to do via the phone and email.
I have zero confidence in the twits hired for airport security, I have no patience for the overblown egos of the flight waitresses and airjockeys, and I don’t like the idea some clown is rummaging through my luggage. So I drive.
C'mon, admit it, he's a DUmmy. They'd all ltao over there at this "joke."
I flew into DC a few years ago with a present my Mother gave me. It was still wrapped and had never been opened from 1960. It was a set of cowboy cap pistols. (nobody knew) I got jacked against the wall and held for about 10 minutes until they saw they were toys. Don’t say, exhibit, suggest or even draw a picture of a bomb or gun at ANY airport!
>>Very very dumb man. Frighteningly dumb.
Bet he doesn’t make that mistake again.<<
It’s not really that dumb, if he said what he says he said.
Although one must be careful, this is reminding me of the eisode of Star Trek TNG where they were visiting a utopian looking planet and wesley accidentally fell and crushed a plant in a garden.
On that planet it was a crime. The penalty was death.
Joking by asking the question “Are you the one that checks for bombs” is different than saying, “what if I have a bomb in my shoe”.
My wife works in the airline industry. I am quite aware how serious the airlines and TSA take this stuff. Too seriously actually. But I am part of that culture and am very careful. Most people are not. This is a clash of cultures.
This guy is arrested, not for yelling “fire” in a crowded theater, but for asking the girl at the snack bar if she is the one that checks people for matches.
Not a hanging offense.
People really need to lighten up.
Yet Muslim protesters in Florida can say “build bigger ovens for the Jews” and there is no outrage or consequence.
He can thank Allah for all this worry.
Not surprisingly, he not only was denied all boarding that day but he was permanently barred from all SWA flights for the rest of his life.
And rightfully so. I would have kicked his ass.
I love that show..
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