Dumba$$ alert
 

http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_264104114.html

MIT Student Arrested For Fake Bomb At Logan
Police Say Simpson Had Circuit Board, Wiring, and Play-Doh


(WBZ) BOSTON An MIT student with a fake bomb strapped to her chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport and later claimed it was artwork, officials said.

Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board and wiring in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.

"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on career day," Pare said at a news conference. "She claims that it was just art, and that she was proud of the art and she wanted to display it."

The battery-powered rectangular device had nine flashing lights, he said. Simpson also had Play-Doh in her hands, he said.

The phrases "Socket to me" and "Course VI" were written on the back of sweat shirt, which authorities displayed to the media. Course VI appears to be a reference to MIT's major of electrical engineering and computer science.

Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device, and was to be arraigned in East Boston District Court later Friday.

"I'm shocked and appalled that somebody would wear this type of device to an airport," Pare said.

Simpson was "extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare said. "She's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said.

Simpson was a member of MIT's swimming and diving team in 2006, according to the team's Web site, which lists her hometown as Kihei, Hawaii, and her high school as Hawaii Preparatory. MIT spokeswoman Patti Richards confirmed that Simpson is an MIT student, but said the school could not immediately confirm any other details and did not have further comment.

She was arrested about 8 a.m. outside Terminal C, home to United Airlines, Jet Blue and other carriers.

A Massachusetts Port Authority staffer manning an information booth in the terminal became suspicious when Simpson -- wearing the device -- approached to ask about an incoming flight, Pare said. Simpson then walked outside, and the information booth attendant notified a nearby trooper.

The trooper, joined by others with submachine guns, confronted her at a traffic island in front of the terminal.

"She was immediately told to stop, to raise her hands and not to make any movement, so we could observe all her movements to see if she was trying to trip any type of device," Pare said. "Had she not followed the protocol, we might have used deadly force."

Pare said Simpson took a subway to the airport, but he was not sure if she had the device on at that time.

She told authorities she was at the airport to greet someone arriving on a flight from Oakland. Authorities verified information as to the name of the passenger she was greeting, and said he had already left the airport.

"She did seem a bit upset that she was in custody. However, she was rational, and she did answer all questions as required," Pare said.

The major praised the booth attendant but said the incident is a reminder of the terrorism threat confronting the civil aviation system. Two of the four passenger jets hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Logan.

"In this day and age, the threat continues to be there," said Pare. "She certainly jeopardized her own safety by bringing this to the airport, as well as the safety of everybody around her."

The city was the focus of a major security scare Jan. 31 when dozens of battery-powered devices were discovered in various locations. Bomb squads were deployed, and highways, bridges and some transit stations were temporarily closed. They turned out to be a promotion for cable TV's Cartoon Network.

You have got to be kidding me...
 

What the F*** was she thinking? Of course if getting in the news was her goal she made it. She is lucky she is not on a slab right now. Of course if she was, the ACLU could dismantle the MA PA and its security team.

Yep, she's a dumbass.........for sure.

But, I'm curious if they can make a charge of disturbing the peace or "possession of a hoax device" stick.

Personally, I doubt it. She's probably within her rights to wear such a device.

There's no law on the books for being a dumbass..........otherwise we'd need about 10,000 additional prisons. Would make the commute to work a whole lot easier and less stressful, however.

How does somebody so clueless manage to get into MIT in the first place?

..........highly intelligent..........no common sense.

There are apparently alot of those here in Washington. Also, many of LOW intelligence and no common sense.

On the flip side, I don't think she did anything wrong. Now, I wouldn't necessarily bring strange wired contraptions to an airport but come on! Has anyone seen those stupid T-shirts with LED's on them? Well, that's basically what she had in a very crude assembly. It would be one thing if she had a device with wires running to a bar of play-doh but this is not what happened. I personally believe it's just more rights taken away from the American citizen. I hope the authorities don't come knocking on my door wanting to look at my basement. They'd probably accuse me of trying to build a nuke with all my electronics stuff, lab equipment, test equipment, geiger counters and uranium samples.
Adam

..........therefore, we can conclude that you are not a dumbass.;)

The follow up clip reveals that she did have some play-doh in her hand. :rolleyes:

(Taze me bro ! ......) Another attention getter ?;)
Stupid is as stupid does! :rolleyes4
Logan airport no less!:eek:

So, would you take this girl as a new hire in your engineering department or firm?? This was career day!

Come on, lets hear it!....Her constitutional right to free speech was trampled on, by God!!
Some one out there must feel this way, no?

As Gotta would say: she's stooooopid.

In similar manner to the prohibition of yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater, there are limits to free speech in maintaining order in the general population.

Accordingly, she might be convicted of disturbing the peace..........depending on the judge.........or jury if she chooses to have one.

Common sense often seems to be in short supply these days on both sides of the security situation. It seems especially low on the Dept. of Homeland Security.

They aren't designed to have common sense. They are trained to do a specific job in a singular way and they execute it with precision...........no free thinking involved. Might as well have a chip installed in their brains.............

Alas, there are many automatons working for the government. No creative thinking, no sense of humor, no coloring outside the lines . . .

Thought aside...can you imagine TSA arresting all the kids running around with those flashing LED shoes. :D

She's from Kihei, Maui . . . . went to one of the most expensive "prep" academy high schools in the state.