US woman jailed over flour-filled condoms settles lawsuit

[High Plains]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A young woman who was arrested and jailed for three weeks on drug charges for what turned out to be flour-filled condoms has settled a lawsuit against the city for US$180,000, according to a media report.

Janet Lee was a first-year student at Bryn Mawr College in 2003 when she tried to take three condoms filled with flour - used as a toy by students at the women's college to squeeze when they were stressed about exams - in her carry-on bag on a flight to Los Angeles. Airport screeners found the condoms, and authorities said initial tests showed they contained drugs.

The trial had been scheduled to begin Thursday.

Lee, now a 21-year-old senior, told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday that she did not know that drug dealers often carry drugs in condoms, and that she had just packed them because she thought they were funny and wanted to show friends at home.

"I was naive, really stupid," Lee said.


More here: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070103/K010319AU.html

[knitter4democracy]

1. What initial tests showed drugs?

I mean, was it the dog, who might have thought it was food, or was it some fast test that was thrown off by the latex? I'm confused.

[Richard Steele]

4. The "field test kits" carried by cops generally test 75% "positive" on ANYTHING.

The police don't actually consider them as useful evidence;
any half-decent lawyer gets them barred from court without question
(the court system knows they aren't real evidence)
they are only valuable as "props" to TRICK suspects into confessing.

[rodeodance]

5. seems they are used to intimidate. How horrible for those who get

caught up in these power games.

[knitter4democracy]

9. That's worthless, then.

Yet more evidence that Americans need more science classes. *sigh*

[Richard Steele]

17. Worthless as "evidence", extemely useful as an INTIMIDATION TOOL.

When the cops can loom over you and say "Don't bother
calling yer lawyer, our TEST already proved you're guilty.
Cooperate and confess now, and maybe we'll ask the judge to
go easy on you."

[knitter4democracy]

19. And the critical thinker shows him the error in his theory.

:D

I'm cranky tonight . . .

[High Plains]

2. Remember this story?

There were lots of DUers ready to hang this woman. Here's the key paragraph:

"Police at the time said field tests showed opium and cocaine, and Lee was held for 21 days on drug trafficking charges until later tests showed that she was telling the truth."

The story doesn't say what happened to those lying and/or incompetent cops.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. About 30 years ago, a friend in the Navy was put into "seclusion"

for 30 days as his patchouli oil was initially analyzed as hash oil by the Navy lab. I can imagine what Lee went through.

[nebenaube]

8. BWAAAHHHHHHHH!

That's rich...

[Dogmudgeon]

6. The "Darwin Award" fans spent weeks bwa-ha-ing over this

The only "naive, really stupid" thing in this case is the American public's acceptance of the Drug War and similar "naive, really stupid" assaults on our freedom.

You know, if this was done to a gun owner, there would be holy hell to pay.

At least it will blow back on Lynne "Kill 'em all" Abraham, Philly's bloodthirsty (and possibly racist) D.A.

--p!

[Captain Hilts]

7. What a jerk. nt

[genie_weenie]

10. So, the official version from the woman

was she was naive and didn't know how drug couriers act? Not that she is or ever was a courier.

Man, what cool way to make 180 grand I should pull this stunt and swallow some ballons filled with a small amount of flour then when I get arrested I could claim it was a college hazing incident and sue. After all it's "free money", a lottery.

This highlights many bad things with America. Facist Government which determines what substances people can and can not ingest and the lawsuit free money mentality. Fug.

[pnwmom]

11. And how would they know about the balloons inside you?

Just wondering.

:silly:

[genie_weenie]

12. Law Enforcement rountinuely detain

persons suspected of being couriers and wait them out or take them for medical exams.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8264460&dopt=Abstract

http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/199912169.OPN.pdf

http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/national/2006/alleged_drug_courier_charged_at_sydney

[pnwmom]

15. Yeah, but they don't routinely detain potential flour-carriers.

[Jed Dilligan]

13. I wouldn't spend three weeks in a Philly city jail

for a million bucks. Free money? Have you ever been to jail? It should have been 180 million.

[genie_weenie]

14. No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express the other week.

Sorry. I know I shouldn't joke, but if I don't I delve into too much of a pessimistic mood.

It just "seems" odd, using flour inside a condom to relieve stress, almost like a set-up. Very close to the smuggling of other white powders. I have seen those stress balls at Bed, Bath & Beyond and I wonder if they would be cheaper than a box of rubbers.

To be clear, I have ZERO evidence about my above statement and I am not ascribing such behavior to this woman. Just conjecture, which is what a message board like this is suited.

Take care.

[flashlighter]

16. does anyone else think she got ripped off?

some one sold a dumb college girl flour instead of coke...and she carried it on an airplane.

Either that or she's really, really dumb.

[Richard Steele]

18. Yes. That "stess reliever" alibi strikes me as frickin RIDICULOUS. nm