$11k seized at airport no charges filed

[+OverSword]

Let this story be a lesson. Never admit anything to the police. Never consent to a search (if they have a right to search you they don't ask). If they haven't placed you under arrest ask if they are arresting you and on what charges, if they pussyfoot around tell them you're leaving since you're not breaking the law and walk away. Also, be smart, if you're young, a minority or look like a hippy don't carry large amounts of cash through the airport, put it in a bank account and use your debit card for crying out loud.

From the article:

It was Feb. 17, 2014, and Charles Clarke, 24, just wanted to get home.

After spending several weeks with family in Cincinnati, Ohio, Clarke arrived at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky., for a flight back to Orlando, Fla., where his mother lived and where he would be taking classes at the University of Central Florida.

With $11,000 in his pocket—the culmination of five years worth of savings from various jobs, financial aid, gifts from family members and benefits from his mother, a disabled veteran—Clarke checked his bag and headed to the gate to await the departure of his flight.

He would eventually return home, but the cash Clarke had in his pocket didn’t make it.

Instead, the weight of the federal government came down on the 24-year-old, and his $11,000 was seized by federal and state law enforcement before he ever boarded the plane.

“I’m not a drug dealer. I’ve never been,” Clarke said. “I didn’t have any plans on doing anything illegal. I was just trying to get home.”

‘Treated Like a Criminal’

Clarke brought the money with him to Cincinnati, Ohio, he said, because his mother was moving apartments, and he didn’t want the moving company to find his money. Additionally, because his bank had few branches, he felt safer knowing his money was near.

After Clarke checked his bag and headed to the gate, a ticketing agent with U.S. Airways—unbeknownst to the young man—placed a call to agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Police Department. The ticketing agent told the officers that Clarke’s luggage smelled like marijuana, according to an affidavit filed by William Conrad, a Cincinnati-based officer with a DEA task force, with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Here they have a PDF of the affidavit

Conrad and Detective Christopher Boyd approached Clarke when he was waiting at the gate and asked if had drugs or money on him. According to Conrad’s affidavit, Clarke was “free to walk away at any time.”

Clarke told the agents he had $11,000 in his pocket and agreed to let the officers search both him and his carry-on bag. The officers didn’t find any drugs. However, Clarke admitted that he had smoked marijuana on his way to the airport.

Then, the officers seized his $11,000, cellphone and iPad.

Clarke received his phone and tablet two months later. But, more than a year later, he’s fighting to have his cash returned.

Read the rest here

Had he not needlessly admitted that he had smoke earlier or consented to a search likely he would have walked onto that plane with all of his property. Remember kids, answering questions or giving permission to the police is STUPID.

[Doc Socks Junior]

Smoking weed when you're on the way to the airport with 11,000 in cash is STUPID.

[+OverSword]

Smoking weed when you're on the way to the airport with 11,000 in cash is STUPID.

No, admitting it is stupid.

[Doc Socks Junior]

The ticketing agent was able to smell it on him.

Still, doing what he did was dumb regardless.

[+OverSword]

The ticketing agent was able to smell it on him.

Still, doing what he did was dumb regardless.

No, the ticketing agent claimed to be able to smell it. Since when is it against the law to smell like something? Answer, never. All he had to do was deny everything starting with can we search you and your stuff and ending with have you been smoking.

"Son, have you smoked pot today?" "Never in my entire life officer." "You look high and smell like weed." "No I don't." "Can we check your stuff to verify you have nothing?" "Nope."

Transaction finished.

Edited June 19, 2015 by OverSword

[Professor Buzzkill]

Smoking weed when you're on the way to the airport with 11,000 in cash is STUPID.

I didn't realize stupidity was a crime.

Wait, stupidity is a crime, but stealing $11K is not?

[Professor Buzzkill]

No, the ticketing agent claimed to be able to smell it. Since when is it against the law to smell like something? Answer, never. All he had to do was deny everything starting with can we search you and your stuff and ending with have you been smoking.

"Son, have you smoked pot today?" "Never in my entire life officer." "You look high and smell like weed." "No I don't." "Can we check your stuff to verify you have nothing?" "Nope."

Transaction finished.

Agreed. Although i am usually an honest person, when dealing with the police i would have no qualms about lying. I mean, in this case, they were actively looking to ruin the live of a disabled veteran who wasn't harming anyone.

[Nnicolette]

having smoked weed that day does not warrant being robbed either way.

[Doc Socks Junior]

Not saying they were right. Not at all. I am saying he was stupid.

It's a little silly to think that simply denying everything was going to get him out of it, also. Ticket agent smells it, drug dog confirms it, prior arrest for robbery...yeah, I bet he gets out of with a firm denial. Probably rides off on his unicorn afterwards, right? (Also, it's actively lying to characterize their actions as "looking to ruin the life of a disabled veteran who wasn't harming anyone". But hey, anything to construct the narrative, right?)

EDIT: I was going to say something here...but decided not too. I'd just like to reaffirm that, yes, civil forfeiture can be misapplied and, yes, nothing wrong with smoking that good kush. But I don't really like stupidity, so I called out his stupidity. (Looks like his smoking habit didn't boost his brainpower too much, ya know? Take away a point for the wonder drug.)

Edited June 19, 2015 by socrates.junior

[MeOnlyMe]

If it smells like weed, it's got weed.

Straightforward, aint no bull**** loopholes or anything.

Smelling is a sense, so is sight; seeing and smelling are both circumstantial determining factors in an investigation. Never in my life have I had a cop lie to my face, and tell me that the car smells like weed for no reason. If he has, it's because the car smelled like weed.

Who knows why he has 11,000 dollars; hes probably going to get it back after the states determines it is legal money, if they dont give it back he can go to court and request it...

Who the **** would want carry 11,000 dollars on their person; let alone through airport security? He sounds of suspicious character, he could have just left the money in his bank account and withdrew 9,999 dollars when he landed..... And then 1,000 like a day later...

He practically asked for it.

Edited June 19, 2015 by MeOnlyMe

[Frank Merton]

Amusing; Americans think they are free, and even boast about it when they are in other countries much freer than America.

[.ZZ.]

Amusing; Americans think they are free, and even boast about it when they are in other countries much freer than America.

And you would say that which countries are "freer" than America?

[Imaginarynumber1]

Never in my life have I had a cop lie to my face, and tell me that the car smells like weed for no reason. If he has, it's because the car smelled like weed.

I've had a cop do exactly that to myself and two friends. None of us smoke weed, no of us had weed, no of us were around weed, yet the cop insisted we were smoking it in the car.

[Gromdor]

And you would say that which countries are "freer" than America?

I would say the level of freedom a person has is more dependent on the money they have or the affiliation they have to those in power rather than what a country is "supposed" to grant. A Saudi royal could do things at a whim for example that the typical American would never be allowed to do, even here in the States. And none of my friends who are police officers ever get speeding tickets while off duty in their own town/counties. My sister-in-law can wear a bikini on the beach in Abu Dahbi, but the locals cannot. You get the idea.

As for countries that are "freer" than America- A lot of my college friends were quite found of Amsterdam, Denmark. My military friends were fond of the Philippines. I guess it all boils down to which "freedoms" that you cherished the most.

As for the Kid at the airport. He was young, dumb and fell for the legal government shakedown scam.

[Wickian]

The guy on the way to an airport, carrying 11k in cash, in a car that smells like weed, and then admits to smoking weed and wonders why his cash was taken from him?

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and not argue that the money was drug money, but his situation is pretty much exactly what the confiscation law was made for, to have the power to not let drug dealers/smugglers walk or drive away with drug money.

The moral of the story is, if you're going to carry that much cash on you, don't indulge in illegal activities and then confess to them when asked...

Edited June 19, 2015 by Wickian

[Dark_Grey]

Hey if it was a good strain, he was basically under the influence of truth serum lol no wonder he admitted it. High and paranoid out of his mind dealing with airport security!

[GlitterRose]

Even if he actually had pot on him, possession of less than 100 grams is a midemeanor punishable by a fine of $150 in Ohio. And he didn't have any pot on him. Just because he smokes doesn't mean he's a dealer, and I would think that they would need to prove that before seizing his money. At least they should have to prove it.

Pot should be legal, anyway. I don't do any drugs, but that doesn't stop me from realizing that the mass incarceration of non-violent offenders isn't doing the US any good.

Edited June 19, 2015 by ChaosRose

[+OverSword]

Not saying they were right. Not at all. I am saying he was stupid.

It's a little silly to think that simply denying everything was going to get him out of it, also. Ticket agent smells it, drug dog confirms it, prior arrest for robbery...yeah, I bet he gets out of with a firm denial. Probably rides off on his unicorn afterwards, right? (Also, it's actively lying to characterize their actions as "looking to ruin the life of a disabled veteran who wasn't harming anyone". But hey, anything to construct the narrative, right?)

EDIT: I was going to say something here...but decided not too. I'd just like to reaffirm that, yes, civil forfeiture can be misapplied and, yes, nothing wrong with smoking that good kush. But I don't really like stupidity, so I called out his stupidity. (Looks like his smoking habit didn't boost his brainpower too much, ya know? Take away a point for the wonder drug.)

The ticket agent and the dog can smell whatever they like but without the actual substance to go along with it that doesn't mean anything, right?

But yeah, he was stupid. But this really annoys me because at the age of 17 when a cop found out through a witness that I had not done something he thought I had done he started fishing for other things. Finally he asked if I had been drinking which I answered no. He told me to breath in his face and said I smell something, "C'mon man admit you were drinking" to which I replied "I took one sip from a beer 3 hours ago" "BANG"! Minor in public after consuming intoxicants. I thank that cop for the lesson. Never, never, never admit anything because that cop questioning you is trying to arrest you. If they need you to admit something that means they've got nothing so admit to nothing, no matter how inconsequential it may seem.

[+OverSword]

Amusing; Americans think they are free, and even boast about it when they are in other countries much freer than America.

You mean like countries where they throw you in prison for defending yourself? I'm glad you live in such a great place, I really have to wonder why I know so many people (and by so many I mean hundreds personally) that ran away from such a paradise.

[+OverSword]

Never in my life have I had a cop lie to my face, and tell me that the car smells like weed for no reason.

I have.

[GlitterRose]

You mean like countries where they throw you in prison for defending yourself? I'm glad you live in such a great place, I really have to wonder why I know so many people (and by so many I mean hundreds personally) that ran away from such a paradise.

Here, they'll just throw you in prison for being poor, or for non-violent offences like smoking pot or having a drug problem. Or they'll shoot you for running away from a cop (who is likely gonna shoot you).

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDsQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2015%2F04%2F07%2Fcop-charged-with-murder-of-motorist-after-jarring-video-surfaces%2F&ei=KTSEVcWLL4LAtQWJ54CoCQ&usg=AFQjCNG88NgoopaL-33tag3cS-ZrbeUlkA&sig2=vXoLhK84agQbE1D_82mZOg

[Dark_Grey]

If they need you to admit something that means they've got nothing so admit to nothing, no matter how inconsequential it may seem.

x100

[KariW]

OverSword, THANK YOU so much for posting this thread as it highlights an injustice which I have been following for a very long time - The Civil Asset Forfeiture laws. My heart goes out to this brave young man who stood up for his rights against a repressive gov't which used an unjust law to violate his rights and seize his personal assets. IMO, This has been happening more and more in this country, and I hope that the laws will be rewritten so that innocent American citizens will no longer be victimized in this way by the Federal Govt. Just a few examples:

http://www.desmoines...nders/25309217/

http://reason.com/ar...-they-took-ever

Personal property rights under the 5th Amendment need to be upheld as well as the due process of law!!

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Just my

Edited June 19, 2015 by KariW

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

You mean like countries where they throw you in prison for defending yourself? I'm glad you live in such a great place, I really have to wonder why I know so many people (and by so many I mean hundreds personally) that ran away from such a paradise.

No, you live in a country where they murder you for selling cigarettes.

Swings and roundabouts.

[Yamato]

Based on a lot of the discussion I've witnessed lately, we live in a country where even a horrid police dept. record like Baltimore's is overlooked and the latest tragic victim of it is run through instead. Where we're reminded how good police are every time another horror story hits the press. Where police are allegedly scared to do their job in a wake of violent crime that follows their own crimes. The calls aren't for departmental improvements like making valid arrests instead of illegal ones, they're for keeping the peace in the riots their shoddy work caused in spite of improvements.

I'm not surprised by the police overreach we're getting over here, and we're all but begging for more of it. We'll destroy our Constitution and what's left of our freedom to keep that goddamned sacrosanct foreign policy going forever. It's the military tribunals and all the political nonsense that's been played to justify them, the violations of our rights happening piece by piece and generally starting overseas where stupid people over here don't care because they're not subjected to it themselves, and let's not forget the patriotic law abiding citizens over here who can't understand why you'd hide anything if you don't have anything to hide. Pawns.