Our modern world
They had quite a scare at the Multnomah County Courthouse yesterday afternoon when a suspicious backpack was found clipped to a signpost just outside the main entrance on Fourth Avenue. Bomb squad showed up, area was cordoned off, the whole works.
Turns out the pack was left there by a guy who had been denied entrance to the courthouse because the metal detector showed he had a box cutter in the pack. Without the backpack, he was able to go inside. As the police bulletin dryly put it, "Courthouse Security Unit staff are currently discussing with the owner alternatives for storing and securing personal property while conducting business at the Courthouse."
| Posted at 7:49 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (4)
Are they telling him he needs to stash it with the hotdog guy, like everyone else?
Posted by EH | March 25, 2011 8:17 AM
I hid my utility knife in the bushes and arrived late to court. My disruption to the court by disrespecfully wearing a baseball cap made me avoid future tickets by avoiding Portland for the past 5 years. Never did find my box cutter.
Posted by dhughes609 | March 25, 2011 9:03 AM
The perp was prolly going to hijack the court house, wanting it flown to cuba.
Posted by pdxjim | March 25, 2011 10:30 AM
I was denied entry into a federal building in New Orleans where a friend works, recently because I had a camera with me. The spouse was allowed in with !!! the iphone...which is also a camera, but never mind...
I was told, by the security staff, to stash the camera in a garbage can outside on the plaza. Hummm...
In addition I was also told that I would be subjected to an airport style security pat down when I set off the alarms because of my knee replacement.
I decided I did not need or want that indignity so I waited for our friend to come down from his office and out of the building.
I hope I do not get called for federal jury duty any time soon.
Posted by portland native | March 25, 2011 2:03 PM