9 year old boy steals car, then stows away on 2 Southwest Airliners

[n2doc]

Boy, 9, takes flight in car, then hops jets
Lakewood runaway was headed to Dallas

By COLIN McDONALD
P-I REPORTER

A 9-year-old runaway's plane-hopping journey from Lakewood to Dallas fell short Wednesday with prosecutors back home filing felony charges -- and Southwest Airlines officials scrambling to explain how the boy got through their terminals and onto two planes.

"He might be a little more sophisticated than your average 9-year-old," said Fred Wist, chief prosecutor for Pierce County's juvenile division. Semaj Booker's strange adventure began Sunday afternoon when he stole a 1986 Acura that had been left running in front of a neighbor's house.



Semaj Booker
Police spotted the boy on state Route 512 near the Interstate 5 interchange and gave chase when he refused to pull over. The pursuit hit speeds of 80 to 90 mph and ended when the Acura's engine blew out while the car exited the highway.

"He just coasted to a stop and bumped into a tree," Lakewood police Lt. David Guttu said.

Officers had to smash one of the car's windows because Semaj refused to unlock the doors and come out.

Because of his age, officials at Pierce County's Juvenile Detention Center refused to admit Semaj. So police took him back to his mother's house.


more:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/300174_flyingkid18.html

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EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST
ONLY 5 OR 6 PARAGRAPHS FROM
THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE.

[JNelson6563]

1. Catch me if you can

Clever boy.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Homeland security is right on the ball.

[mikelewis]

3. We should recruit that kid into the Agency.

That's talent.

[Wickerman]

4. amazing kid

how did he ever figure out a way to make San Antonio a connection to Dallas?

[lectrobyte]

5. Every system has a hole. Just think about how many things that

happen that you don't hear about.

[IDemo]

6. Sounds like he was just being a little overly pro-active

Sakinah Booker told The News Tribune that her son doesn't like the neighborhood and is afraid of a sex offender who lives nearby. "He does not like it at all," she said.

She said she hoped to move her four sons back to Dallas soon.

"It may very well be that he is where he wants to be," Wist said. "And with a follow-through on the move, that might be the best thing to happen right now."

[n2doc]

8. Except they are going to charge him with a Felony

The airplane trips might not get much more than a slap on the wrist, but stealing a car,then going on a high speed chase is not going to be overlooked. It is a shame, the kid sounds smart and resourceful.

[Lusted4]

7. I wonder if anyone is concerned about why he wants to leave so bad. nt

[Coventina]

9. SWA has some serious 'splaining to do.

If the flight isn't sold out, he was golden once he was on, because they don't have assigned seats.

And I'm sure their "cattle-call" system for boarding the plane helped the kid sneak by the person at the gate.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. He didn't "stow away'; he boarded w/a pass.

[cboy4]

11. I have mixed feelings about publishing the photographs of children

this young in newspapers who are accused of anything short of murder.

I mean, the kid isn't even old enough to have been accepted at the juvenile center.

There just seems something morally wrong about it.