Michelle Malkin » Found: Box cutter hidden in book

Found: Box cutter hidden in book

By Michelle Malkin • February 20, 2008 02:35 PM

Whoops. He just forgot it was there!

The Clearwater man pleads guilty, saying he had forgotten about the box cutter.

The X-ray image of a box cutter inside Benjamin Baines Jr.’s backpack caught the attention of federal officers Sunday morning at Tampa International Airport.

But it was the packaging that really jolted them: a hollowed-out book that hid the razor-sharp tool. Also inside the backpack: a Koran, a Holy Bible and rap music lyrics referencing police, drugs and guns.

Baines, 21, of Clearwater told investigators he forgot the box cutter was inside the copy of Fear Itself when he packed his bag for a trip to Las Vegas, states a report by Tampa International Airport police.

He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty Monday in Hillsborough County court and received a 30-day jail sentence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is looking into the case but has not filed charges.

“What raises our concern is when an item is artfully concealed,” said Christopher White, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration. “It’s different than a box cutter inside a backpack.”

Baines could also face a civil charge, with a fine up to $10,000, for carrying a prohibited item through a checkpoint.

Relatives say he’s a good kid with no previous criminal record.

It was all a misunderstanding, of course–and don’t forget to scream “RACIAL PROFILING!:”

Baines studies various religions, say relatives. They insist he’s no terrorist. “He’s not militant,” said James Layne, a 28-year-old cousin.
“He’s not a crazy blow-yourself-up kind of guy. It’s all a major misunderstanding.”

Butler said his nephew forgot the box cutter, which he used at his former job at the Sandpearl, was in the backpack. He recalls his nephew packing the book in a duffle bag that was checked as luggage. The police report tells the story this way. On Sunday, Baines was scheduled to fly Southwest Airlines Flight 338 to Jacksonville at 7:45 a.m., then catch another plane to Las Vegas, where his father lives. He reached security screening at Airside C at 7:30 a.m. An X-ray operator spotted the box cutter.

Another TSA officer found the tool inside a “compartment” within the book. Baines told officers he cut out the pages to keep marijuana and money from being stolen by roommates. Inside the backpack were the Koran and Bible and the books Muhammad in the Bible,The Noble Quran and The Prophet’s Prayer.

The violent rap lyrics, Baines said, were his work. “He stated that rap music lyrics is all lies and that rap music writers have to play the part,” the report states. A national records check found Baines had no criminal convictions.

At an initial hearing Monday, Hillsborough court records show, Baines pleaded guilty to the concealed weapons charge. He wasn’t represented by an attorney, said Butler. TSA and airport officers charged him because “he was black and carrying the Koran,” he said.

Posted in: Airline Security, Racial profiling

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#250444

On February 20th, 2008 at 9:52 pm, tacodawn said:

On the surface this guy sounds like a liar.

Regardless, anyone who attempts to get through airport security with a box cutter is guilty.
#250446

On February 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm, TexasTiger said:

Anyone have Ethean “Because he was black and carrying the Koran” Butler’s e-mail address? I’d like to pass along this self-help video.
#250456

On February 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, spidgy said:

What an idiot. Not sure we should give him any more attention.

The TSA snagged my lighter that I “forgot” was in a carry on. Bully for them.

The boxcutter is a chilling reminder, but irrelevant with this moron.
#250457

On February 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, spidgy said:

BTW, if they *were* profiling…? GOOD!
#250603

On February 21st, 2008 at 4:26 am, RetFireman said:

I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. Even here there are people willing to excuse and defend this creep and even belittle and deminish the effect of what would have haooened had he been successful in getting the cutter on the plane.

Islam will stop at nothing, and the rely on the stupidity of those such as the ones that defend this gutter-trash in order to succeed. The willingness at which people assist them is nothing short of terrifying in itself.
#250782

On February 21st, 2008 at 11:15 am, Milwaukee Mike said:

“He’s not a crazy blow-yourself-up kind of guy.

OK then! Our bad. Let him go.
#250853

On February 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm, walterc said:

I’m curious as to where this guy goes to church. I’m betting he’s been “studying” with a local imam, introduced to him by one of his maryjane stealing roommates.
#250925

On February 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm, shark said:

I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because I know a lot of tokers, and they really aren’t that smart. He probably DID forget it was there, and he probably left the boxcutter in the book immediately after hollowing it out with said boxcutter.

Pretty ingenius, knowing his smoking buddies would never crack open a book not involving the words “Fear and Loathing…”.

Anyway, the strip search on his next flight anywhere should be amusing. Way to get on the lifetime “watch list”, Benjamin.