Supreme Court photo:
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Man held over fireworks, fuse at Philly airport
(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA – A Pennsylvania man was arrested and faces a federal charge after screeners found him trying to take powerful fireworks onto a cross-country flight Thursday morning, authorities said.
Joseph Picklo, 29, of Dallas, Pa., had “commercial grade M-80s” in a backpack when passing through security at Philadelphia International Airport around 5:30 a.m. as he was about to board a flight to San Francisco, Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan said at a news conference.
CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports that in addition to the two firecrackers, each of which the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite, authorities found a fuse and a taped-up bottle containing a pound of explosive powder. A Transportation Security Administration statement said the bottle was filled with flash powder.
“Basically what you have there is inside a backpack going through security to board an airplane the components of an improvised-explosive device,” Miller said on “CBS This Morning.” . . . [read more]
TSA: Man at Philadelphia airport had fireworks, flash powder (CNN)
. . . .Picklo was being screened for a United Airlines flight to San Francisco “when a plastic bottle filled with an explosive substance was found in his luggage,” the release from the U.S. attorney said. He was stopped by TSA screeners after “it was determined that (his) carry-on bag contained several prohibited items including a water bottle filled with flash powder and M-80 fireworks,” according to a TSA statement. Joe Sullivan, Philadelphia police counterterrorism inspector, said the plastic bottle was wrapped in black tape. . . . .
Man Tries to Board Plane at PHL With Fireworks: Cops (NBC10)
Man Charged with Attempting to Carry an Explosive Device onto an Airplane (FBI)
Joseph Picklo, 29, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, was charged today by criminal complaint with attempting to carry on an explosive device on a plane, following an incident at Philadelphia International Airport. Picklo was being screened for a United Airlines flight to San Francisco this morning when a plastic bottle filled with an explosive substance was found in his luggage. Picklo was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department. He was transferred to federal custody this afternoon. He made an initial appearance in federal magistrate’s court today and had a federal defender appointed to represent him. A continuance was granted until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. The defendant must still be formally charged by indictment or information.
The case is being investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, and the FBI.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
M-80 (Wikipedia)
M-80s are a class of large firecrackers, sometimes called salutes. The Simulator, Artillery, M80, was originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military to simulate explosives or artillery fire; Later, M-80s were manufactured as fireworks. . . . Due to property damages and bodily harm caused by M-80s….civilians are no longer allowed to carry a pyrotechnic device containing more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic flash powder. In 1966, M-80s were banned by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Child Protection Act of 1966. Furthermore, they were then made illegal by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in the 1970s…..
What is an “M-80,” anyway? And why can’t you buy one? (Fireworks Land)
M-80s are illegal in the United States. Don’t make them, buy them or use them. That’s all you really need to know. Firecrackers sold to the public in the U.S. can only have 50 milligrams or less of pyrotechnic composition per firecracker. A true M-80 contains much more than 50 milligrams, and is therefore illegal. Is it really worth it, if the possible consequences (losing a finger or your hearing, losing your girlfriend because she doesn’t like M-80s, paying a fine or spending time behind bars) outweigh the brief instant of “fun” you got from a loud bang?
If you have a desire to “win the war” in your neighborhood by being the one who set off the loudest bang of the night, or if you feel there is some kind of status or macho glamour in possessing a “real M-80” when everyone else has ordinary firecrackers… well, all of these will wear off quickly as you are sitting for hours in a courtroom later on.
And do you really want to have it remain on your record for years, especially if you are planning to apply for jobs which require background checks? Many people who have gone down that path in the past would say the same thing to you that you are reading right now. I’m sorry if all this disappoints you, but anyone who has your best interests in mind would give you the same advice as this. Stay away from M-80s and any illegal fireworks. . . .
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Authorities say the Kentucky-Louisville basketball rivalry boiled over at a Kentucky dialysis clinic when one patient punched another during an argument about the teams. Police Lt. Robert Swanigan said the altercation at the Georgetown clinic began Monday with a verbal exchange between Ed Wilson, a 68-year-old Kentucky fan, and Charles Taylor, a 71-year-old Louisville fan. The men were arguing about who will win when the teams meet Saturday in the Final Four. “I think this is a first at a dialysis center,” Swanigan told WKYT-TV. . . . [read more]
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JDLR (Just Doesn’t Look Right)
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