World Courant
A Pennsylvania man arrived on the Pittsburgh airport Friday night time after he was launched from custody on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the place he had been detained for having ammunition in his baggage.
Bryan Hagerich — a 39-year-old husband, father of two and former skilled baseball participant — is considered one of 5 Individuals arrested and detained on the islands since February for having stray ammunition of their baggage, a criminal offense punishable as much as 12 years on the islands.
The opposite detained Individuals are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas.
A Turks and Caicos choose issued a suspended 52-month sentence Friday morning to Hagerich, who pleaded responsible to possessing ammunition on the islands. He was additionally ordered to pay a $6,500 positive.
PENNSYLVANIA DAD DETAINED IN TURKS AND CAICOS TO RETURN HOME AFTER PAYING FINE FOR HAVING AMMO IN LUGGAGE
Bryan Hagerich and his spouse, Ashley Hagerich, board a airplane in Turks and Caicos, Friday, Could 24, 2024. (LUCID Methods)
Hagerich instructed Fox Information Digital on Thursday that he and his attorneys “made a really, very robust case” in his protection after he pleaded responsible.
A number of lawmakers applauded the transfer to launch Hagerich from custody on the islands, permitting him to return to his household in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation had visited TCI on Monday to induce authorities leaders to launch the Individuals detained for having stray ammunition of their baggage.
“That is nice information,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., stated in a press release. “Bryan is coming house to his household. It was an honor to satisfy Bryan and the opposite detained Individuals in TCI this week.”
“After we met with TCI officers just a few days in the past, they made clear they wished this case resolved,” Fetterman continued. “They acknowledged that Bryan and the opposite detained Individuals will not be gunrunners — they’re simply individuals who made a mistake. I am grateful that the choose acknowledged that the best factor to do was to ship Bryan house. I am additionally grateful to the U.S. State Division which has been a vital companion in bringing Bryan house.”
AMERICANS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS BUNK, PRAY TOGETHER WHILE AWAITING SENTENCINGS: ‘A BIG FAMILY’
Bryan Hagerich spent three-and-a-half months in Turks and Caicos ready for his case to be processed. (Household handout)
Fetterman additionally stated he’s hopeful that TCI expedites the opposite circumstances of detained Individuals to allow them to even be launched quickly and return to their households.
Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Man Reschenthaler stated whereas he’s “overjoyed” to see Hagerich is returning to Pennsylvania and reuniting along with his spouse and kids, “this terrifying state of affairs ought to have by no means occurred to him, or the 4 different Individuals nonetheless awaiting sentencing.”
“Because the Turks and Caicos authorities works to deal with future circumstances, the British territory should guarantee the security and wellbeing of U.S. vacationers. I gained’t relaxation till Individuals can as soon as once more set foot on their islands with out placing their livelihoods in danger,” the congressional consultant stated.
The circumstances of the 5 Individuals have slight variations, however all 5 have been arrested whereas touring house after safety detected the ammunition of their baggage.
FLORIDA WOMAN BECOMES 5TH AMERICAN DETAINED IN TURKS AND CAICOS FOR CARRYING AMMO
5 Individuals have been arrested in Turks and Caicos in February for carrying ammo in airports on the island. From left to proper: Michael Lee Evans (no photograph), Bryan Hagerich, Tyler Wenrich, Ryan Watson and Sharitta Grier. (Turks and Caicos Police/ Dimitrios Kambouris )
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Hagerich had stray ammunition from a earlier looking journey in one of many compartments of a giant suitcase his household had loaded their belongings into for a household trip.
Watson had stray ammunition, additionally left over from a looking journey, within the lining of his carry-on bag. Grier had stray bullets within the lining of her bag after she not too long ago bought a firearm for her personal safety.
Wenrich has equally stated he had no intention of bringing bullets onto the islands and had no concept he had two bullets in his journey backpack till safety discovered them.
Fox Information’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
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