Behavioral Specialists Spot Suspicious Passenger

[Gan]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Jamaican man behavior specialists spotted acting suspiciously was detained and arrested after components used to make pipe bombs, unknown liquids and bomb-making literature were found in his luggage at Orlando International Airport.

Officials said federal behavior identification agents noticed something about the man's body language that prompted officers to move in near the Virgin Atlantic and Jamaica Airlines ticket counters Tuesday afternoon.

The passenger, who the FBI identified as Kevin Brown, 32, was immediately taken into custody and a portion of the Terminal A in front of Virgin Atlantic was closed to passengers.

During a search of Brown's luggage, airport authorities found two galvanized pipes, end caps, two small containers containing BBs, batteries, two containers with an unknown liquid and bombing making literature, FBI officials said.

Brown faces charges of carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft.

"This appears to have been a serious matter with the potential for tragic consequences, and the incident is being thoroughly investigated," ranking member on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U.S. Rep. John Mica said in a written statement. "It's probably one of the most serious security incidents at Orlando International Airport ever."

Tuesday night, an FBI official said Brown was apparently living on the streets in Orlando.

It was not known if Brown had legal representation.

Witnesses: Man Acted 'Crazy'
Passengers waiting to board flights at Orlando International Airport Tuesday said they noticed Brown acting suspiciously before agents moved in.

"He looked rather crazy," a passenger said. "He was rocking left and right and up and down. He looked a little wacko."

Brown was scheduled to fly on Air Jamaica Flight 80 to Montego Bay, Local 6 reported. The flight departed Tuesday afternoon after it was cleared by security.

Large crowds formed around the portion of the airport and traffic backed up on nearby streets for most of the afternoon. Only 11 flights were affected during the incident.

TSA officials said flight operations were operating normally and both security checkpoints were open Tuesday night.

The FBI is working with the Orlando Police Department, the Transportation Security Administration and several other agencies to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information about the matter is urged to contact the FBI office in Tampa at 813-253-1000.

http://www.local6.com/news/15762829/detail.html

_________________________________________________

WAIT WHAT!?!?!

A person was PC searched simply for acting 'suspicious'?

:wtf: /sarcasm


This one is especially just for you TheE.

:lol:

[Asha]

Fucking GOOD JOB. /thumbsup

[Lyonis]

WAIT WHAT!?!?!

A person was PC searched simply for acting 'suspicious'?

:wtf: /sarcasm





Another great reason not to fly. I usually am all about hating on the law for some reason EXCEPT for airports. Search me, abuse me, but please don't let me fall 30,000 feet to my death. I'm just a hypocrite like that :shrug:

Well done.

[Clove]

The -E- would get him off.

[Gan]

wait


for


it...

[Stanley Burrell]

That's awesome (that they got'm.)

Everyone needs to be approached. Um, man, I wish I could see video of said erratic behavior -- I've seen some of the documentaries on folks who are trained as body language counterterrorism experts (at the airport.)

I wonder how many of those guys there are and what their resources are, both in numbers and training.

[TheEschaton]

I don't rock back and forth in my everyday interactions with people.

[Gan]

I don't rock back and forth in my everyday interactions with people.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/3strangedays/warf.gif

[Stanley Burrell]

I don't rock back and forth in my everyday interactions with people.

Yeah, I wanna know how fucking loony he was. If passengers can point him out, then yeah, that's probably going to statistically increase the odds of some fuckwad getting spotted.

I just hope I don't have blind faith in FBI body language-readers and that, like, they're not over-hyping their caliber.

[TheEschaton]

Facepalm all you want, but if you can't see how A) rocking back and forth and "acting crazy" brings about reasonable suspicion, and B) how cops aren't behavioral specialists, but my point in the other thread stands.

I also understand your comment to me was sarcastic, but you know what? I find it a serious enough distinction to talk about it seriously.

-TheE-

[Gan]

Its a behavior based on perception.

How do we know the guy wasnt autistic? How do we know the guy wasnt singing to himself - or mentally singing to himself (ie-no audible singing)? He wasnt breaking the law by sitting there was he?

TheE should be all over this as a violation of the guy's 4th amendment rights.

Way

To

Go

:clap:

[Clove]

Facepalm all you want, but if you can't see how A) rocking back and forth and "acting crazy" brings about reasonable suspicion, and...Acting crazy just means you might be crazy- doesn't mean you have pipe-bomb materials in your luggage. Go get 'em E! Get 'em!

[TheEschaton]

I would imagine "behavioral specialists" would be better able to spot the difference than, say, your average TSA people.

[Gan]

I guess its against the law to be crazy?

[Clove]

I would imagine "behavioral specialists" would be better able to spot the difference than, say, your average TSA people.Because rocking back and forth and "acting crazy" requires specialized training to spot and recognize.

How much you want to bet one of the highly-trained ticket agents weren't already on the phone to TSA agents even as the experts were "noticing".

[Stanley Burrell]

Edited to Add: <<TheE's last post, I think?>>

Yeah, someone pull me up a table of agent training statistics and deployment plans.

[TheEschaton]

I'm not saying "being crazy" is illegal, gan, and you know it, you're just being obtuse.

I'm saying abnormal behavior can and does warrant reasonable suspicion for probable cause. And I'm saying 1) in this case, the behavioral specialists were qualified to judge that this guy's behavior was actually abnormal, 2) the cop couldn't tell me any abnormal behavior when I was pulled over, except for the fact that I was speeding 7 mph over the limit.

-TheE-

[Clove]

2) the cop couldn't tell me any abnormal behavior when I was pulled over, except for the fact that I was speeding 7 mph over the limit.

-TheE-And you were you. For the record when Stanley is mocking you.... there's your sign.

[Gan]

I'm not saying "being crazy" is illegal, gan, and you know it, you're just being obtuse.

I'm saying abnormal behavior can and does warrant reasonable suspicion for probable cause. And I'm saying 1) in this case, the behavioral specialists were qualified to judge that this guy's behavior was actually abnormal, 2) the cop couldn't tell me any abnormal behavior when I was pulled over, except for the fact that I was speeding 7 mph over the limit.

-TheE-

Lets clarify.

Guy at airport was not breaking any laws. He was just sitting there rocking back and forth (acting crazy). Authorities deemed the behavior suspicious and detained him and searched his belongings under PC. Then the guy was arrested, based on the contraband found during the PC search.

1. Abnormal behavior is perception based, regardless of the training of the individual doing the assessment.

2. 2 seperate actions happened in your cop folder. (1. cop pulled you over for speeding) (2. Cop searched your car based on his perception of suspiciousness aroused by your behavior). If you would have had contraband, you would have been arrested. Its amazing that you still cant see the difference there then suddenly see the justification for suspicion here. Its ironic and laughable actually.


Obtuse? LOL No. I'm throwing every excuse you gave in the other thread back in your face.

Its fun to see you crabwalk.


LOL

[Gan]

Edited to Add: <<TheE's last post, I think?>>

Yeah, someone pull me up a table of agent training statistics and deployment plans.


HAHAHA


Stan FTMFW.

[Keller]

There's a clear distinction between a behaviorial specialist spotting suspicious behavior at an airport and a cop wanting to search TheE's car after a traffic stop. In addition, there is an entire body of case law that details what types of behavior it takes to raise PC for a car search.

You're pulling at thin air, Gan.

[Gan]

Thats what attorneys do best.

(and wanna-be attorneys)

[Clove]

There's a clear distinction between a behaviorial specialist spotting suspicious behavior at an airport and a cop wanting to search TheE's car after a traffic stop. In addition, there is an entire body of case law that details what types of behavior it takes to raise PC for a car search.

You're pulling at thin air, Gan.I think Gan's point is, the E saying "there wasn't any PC" isn't really proof that there wasn't.

[Latrinsorm]

1. Abnormal behavior is perception based, regardless of the training of the individual doing the assessment.The legality of that assessment is not universal, however. A police officer (in general) is not permitted to testify as an expert in psychology, behavioral or otherwise.

To put a more personal spin on it, I'm positive there have been people who consider me a suspicious-looking character. I'm just as positive that "well he has long hair" is not a legal grounds for search or seizure, even though "abnormal behvaior is perception based".

[Clove]

The legality of that assessment is not universal, however. A police officer (in general) is not permitted to testify as an expert in psychology, behavioral or otherwise.Doesn't have to. Just has to have reasonable suspicion. I suppose if you're gonna get all Johnny Cochrane about it, you could call a behavioral expert to support an officer's conclusion.

[Latrinsorm]

And as Eschaton pointed out in the other thread, the "reasonableness" in question is not "whatever the law enforcement official deemed reasonable" but must conform to some external objective standard - for instance a medical one that required specific training to determine.

The point remains that there is a fundamental ability distinction between a the occupations of "behavioral specialist" and "police officer" that includes but is not limited to legally discerning "abnormal behavior".

[BigWorm]

Also, being searched before getting on a plane is NOT a Terry stop. You are NOT under arrest, as you are when you are pulled over. Although there may now be a secret law against it, like the one requiring us to show ID to board a plane, he should have been able to leave the airport.

Did the article mention PC? I didn't see it anywhere.

[Hulkein]

The expectation of privacy in an airport is so low that it's hard to use any search that occurs there and apply it to any other situation.

[Parkbandit]

Also, being searched before getting on a plane is NOT a Terry stop. You are NOT under arrest, as you are when you are pulled over. Although there may now be a secret law against it, like the one requiring us to show ID to board a plane, he should have been able to leave the airport.

Did the article mention PC? I didn't see it anywhere.

What? I've been pulled over a few times.. I've never been arrested though.

So by following your idiot logic.. someone could walk into the airport with a bomb strapped to his chest.. but he should be given the opportunity to just leave the airport without being questioned?

[BigWorm]

What? I've been pulled over a few times.. I've never been arrested though.

So by following your idiot logic.. someone could walk into the airport with a bomb strapped to his chest.. but he should be given the opportunity to just leave the airport without being questioned?

Ask the cop if you can just leave right after he pulls you over. Guess what, you can't because you are in police custody, albeit temporarily and without much of the theater that we typically associate with being held against our will.

[BigWorm]

What? I've been pulled over a few times.. I've never been arrested though.

So by following your idiot logic.. someone could walk into the airport with a bomb strapped to his chest.. but he should be given the opportunity to just leave the airport without being questioned?

Sorry for double posting, but I didn't read through the second part. Bringing a bomb to the airport or any public area is against the law. You are not acting suspicious, you are committing a crime. Key difference.