MIT student Star Simpson arrested at gunpoint at Logan International Airport
Filed under: News | By: Daniel
Posted on: September 21, 2007 | 25 Comments
19 year old MIT student Star Simpson was at Logan International Airport wearing a device on her chest that included lights and wires, she approached an airport employee with something that seemed like putty in her hands and walked away after being asked what it was.
Then as Star Simpson left the airport terminal she found herself surrounded by police holding machine guns, they thought that she had a bomb strapped to her body.
Apparently she had approached the airport employee to inquire about an incoming flight from Oakland.
After police seized her they learned that the device was harmless and just a piece of art that Star Simpson wore to stand out on career day, and that’s just what happened.
Although the police were concerned, they just followed protocol’s put in place and it’s a good job they did not have to use deadly force.
Imagine if she did not raise her hands when asked, the putty was apparently just some play dough.
She has since been charged with possessing a hoax device; bail was set at $750 cash and will have to return to court on October 29th.
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What BS….
I could understand if she’d called in a threat or something..
You’d think the police had brains enough to see that it wasn’t intentional (which by definition, a hoax IS) and just give her a stern lecture on how easily she could have been shot as a terrorist.
Instead, they’ll railroad her through a justice system that’s been broken for decades, and she’ll wind up with a criminal record over a non-issue.
Makes you wonder where this country is headed.
ewwww, that guy better not get too close! it might jump right off and Byte him! and where’s all that money that went for all those high tech explosive sniffers?
gone? gone where? probably into some security fools back pockets thats where!
First light brights now this. when will Boston learn.
What a moron. What is with MIT students and primitive circuit design? “I’m cool cause I strap outmoded circuits to myself and think it’s artistic. *snark* *snark* *snark*.
What a bunch of posers.
Use of deadly force on a science project? Yeah, that would’ve been a bad scene.
I don’t think Star should have to pay anything– she was not trying to perpetrate a hoax.
But I guess creativity is generally discouraged in a police state, which is what America has become.
Okay, it’s barely understandable to detain her until they found out what the device was, but to charge her with a “Hoax”??? That’s going too far. Who gets to decide what’s a hoax these days? If I walk in to an airport talking on my cell phone, nobody says a word, yet it has a battery, flashing lights, and more circuitry than this girls sweatshirt.
Now the poor girl has to pay ridiculous legal fees to fight this. I’m not saying it was a smart move, but it certainly wasn’t criminal!
Are you freaking kidding me??? In this day and age, these freaking kids need to get a clue and not be so stupid, oh excuse me, ignorant. What the hell do you think is going to happen to you if you go to an Airport with a bomb looking like device strapped to your chest? A Christmas Tree?!?!? Go to Seattle then! Seriously, these stupid kids need to get a freaking clue and join the real world, instead of causing panic and fear just because they wanted to stand out. Come on, you’re not at the job fair, you’re at an Airport!!!! Use common sense. Make an example out of this stupid student and prosecute her to fullest. She should pat fines and serve community service for being so lame. Through the book at her judge!
What a geek, common sense is not something MIT teaches.
It’s an Airport foolio.
It is very interesting to note that most news sites do not include a picture. When no picture is posted the comments look like ’she is stupid she deserves to get the book thrown at her.’
Where there is a picture the comments look like they do here.
Anyone who can follow a wire can see that the wires go from a battery to lights. And, that there is nothing that looks even remotely explosive. Further, she did not claim it was explosive.
If I was a complete moron with a hint of common sense I would be much more afraid of a laptop computer or any other enclosed electronic device. The circuits in a computer are extremely complicated and could be disguised bomb circuits and a laptop is much larger which would allow more explosives to be put inside.
Star’s device is so innocuous looking simply because it is clearly not explosive. Wires do not explode! LED’s do not explode. Batteries, hmm, they could explode but normally do not and they are allowed on airplanes.
Here “art” is simply a flashing bike light in the shape of a star with the plastic cover removed!
When will we start holding police accountable for inflicting, hmm what is the right word here, on our innocent citizens?
Please - all this sorrowful affection for this girl. You’re telling me that a MIT student (still one of the top computer and engineering schools, right?) wouldn’t “realize” that having circuits attached to your midsection while holding a C4 lookalike in your hand would not be found to be alarming? Those that think it was accidental are naive. I think charges are warranted, and she’s lucky that she’s only being charged with a hoax.