Posted on 05/16/2011 7:17:01 PM PDT by Bed_Zeppelin
SALEM, Ore. - Salem Police stopped an Amtrak train on Sunday afternoon after reports a woman threatened other passengers when they complained she was speaking too loudly on her cell phone.
Lakeysha Beard of Tigard was charged with disorderly conduct after police said she got into a “verbal altercation” with passengers on the train. The other passengers complained she refused to put down her cell phone, even after train staff made repeated announcements for passengers to not use cell phones, according to police.
When a passenger confronted her about her loud talking, police said Beard got aggressive. She had reportedly been talking non-stop on the phone since getting on the train in Oakland, Calif.
Beard was taken into custody until a family member could come and pick her up.
The train pulled out of the station in Oakland at 10 p.m. the night before, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Verae Graham. Conductors on the train coordinated with police to stop the train at a crossing about two miles from the Salem station. That was around 2 p.m.
The train was the Coast Starlight, which runs between Los Angeles and Seattle.
Graham said Amtrak has no formal policy that bans people from talking on cell phones while the train is moving.
KATU tried to contact Beard for comment but could not reach her.
The train was stopped for about 20 minutes before it continued on to Portland.
At least this didn't involve a beatdown of some kind.
So are they afraid the cell phone is gonna cause Amtrak to lose money?
Should've tried her cell phone number.
It would have been busy...
Seems as though hardly anyone has any manners or consideration for others when it comes to using a cell phone. It was 10 p.m. and I am sure most people had heard quite enough talking for one day and just wanted some peace and quiet. I do not understand why people think they have to talk on their cell phone all the time and loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Defund Amtrak...why are the majority of Amtrak's fares subsidized?
That’s why cell phone jammers exist. Legal to own, but not to use. They work great (so I’ve been told).
Throw Lakeysha from the train. It’ll make a great children’s book.
After a portion of my plane flights were canceled I had to take a GH Bus on the last leg at 11:30 PM. I sat in front of two women who where going to a “Feminist Conference”.
I spent 2+Hours in Hell listening to them discuss the issues that were to be discussed at the conference. OMG!
FReepmail me if you have info on where to buy one.
I put in quite a lot of time on Amtrak while I was long distance commuting. There are few things more annoying than someone in the seat behind you who won’t stop talking on their cell phone.
It’s one thing to make a quick call home to say you are late, or something of that kind. It’s quite another to talk nonstop as this woman was evidently doing.
I'm thinking that that is a 'no picture necessary' name.
since getting on the train in Oakland, Calif.
Now I'm sure of it.
You owe me a new keypad. :)
A pocket size cell phone jammer would be a hot seller.
Damn Lakeysha was just talking to her Aunt Jemima about some breakfast!
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