No, there isn’t anything mysterious about the headline — a couple really did get arrested for asking a police officer for directions in Baltimore, reports WBAL 11.
As the story goes, Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook, of Chantilly, Virginia spent last Saturday in Baltimore, enjoying a company picnic and taking in an Orioles game at Camden Yards. As they drove out, they got lost, stopping to ask a police officer for directions. This, it seems, isn’t looked upon too kindly in Baltimore — both were promptly arrested, spent eight hours in jail, and were released without being charged with any crime. To boot, Kelly’s car was left unlocked by police, and upon his return, he found himself freed of cell phone charger, pair of sunglasses and 20 CDs.
D.C. police officers have been known to arrest motorists after a single glass of wine or arbitrarily detain hundreds of protestors at a time for little more than exercising their right to assembly. But at least they’ll give directions.
Martin Austermuhle