http://www.tampabays10.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=45128\
School bus driver acted like cop, arrested for tailgating detectives
– A Seminole man, who works as a Pinellas County school bus driver, was arrested after tailgating two Pinellas County Sheriffs detectives in a gold Buick that he had equipped to resemble an unmarked police car.The incident began on Tuesday afternoon when 43-year-old Michael McKean began tailgating a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office vehicle driven by a detective on Bryan Dairy Road.As McKean began following the detectives, it was noted that the car was equipped with radio equipment, a traffic radar unit, and what appeared to be an in-car video camera.
As the suspect overtook the unmarked Sheriff car, he used a public address system to tell the detective to “slow it down.” The detectives then followed behind the suspect, called for assistance from a uniformed deputy in a marked Sheriff’s Officer cruiser.
When stopped, authorities say McKean was found to be in possession of a Connecticut State Police Badge and a jacket with police patches and other law enforcement insignia on it. Inside the car, detectives observed a blue light on the floorboard and a police scanner mounted along with various radio equipment. At no time did he display the police badge or blue light.
Detectives say the suspect told them that he had followed him so closely in an attempt to cause him to believe he was a police officer so he would slow down. He also claimed to have previously worked as a law enforcement officer in Connecticut, before a back injury ended his career. The suspect later admitted that he had never worked as a law enforcement officer anywhere.
During the investigation, McKean was also found to be in possession of pharmaceutical drugs for which he did not have a prescription. He was arrested for 5 counts of drug possession and 1 count of unlawful installation of radio equipment.
Cool, eh..
But, what has this to do with ham radio? Same with the rabbi dude. Are they really Hamsexy? I would bet that neither one of these guys even know what a ham radio is.
Ok, I’m done. Time to put the frozen pizza in the oven.
Thanks for totally pissing on the fun, Mark.
I don’t post anything, people bitch.
When I post something, people bitch more.
I give up.
Ignore him. It’s clearly ham-related, as we’re all aware of plenty of hams that equip their POV’s with emergency equipment.
And I’ll wager any amount of money that there are plenty of hams out there in ex-cruisers that LOOOOVE the feeling they get when people driving around them think they’re cops.
These posts should continue; if only to serve as a warning to those hamwhackers out there: YOU WILL GET CAUGHT EVENTUALLY.
Was there coverage of this story in local media? I’d live to see the news story. You know, there is insane and then there is just completely insane. This guy would be completely insane, has to be. I wonder what the deal with the badge was, reproduction or stolen??
No, it’s not ham related.
I see Bryan’s point though. I guess I am partly to blame for not making any submissions lately. But lotsa people wanna be cops. Lots wanna be NASCAR drivers. Lots wanna be sports stars. But if they don’t know the difference between a dipole and a straight key, they *cain’t* be Hamsexy.
Call me a purist.
Uh?? There is a Michael Mckean in the QRZ database : KI4PYY.
My Gawd…
Bryan can smell ’em a couple thousand miles away!!
That should be in the write up. For the purists!
I don’t think there is any major distinction between the unlawful behaviour of this fine gentleman and some of the whackers here in Canadia.
Keep your stick on the ice Brian.
I would venture to guess 99.9% that this guy is the same as listed in database as KI4PYY . Looks like he licensed June 26th, 2006.
Don’t jump to conclusions… Michael McKean is a rather common name… Anyone who is a fan of Spinal Tap or any of the Christopher Guest movies is familiar with the name.
uh, o.k? That makes two guys called Michael McKean I’ve heard of now. The address in the database is Seminole FL. If there are two guys called Michael Mckean in Seminole that I bet the one who was not arrested hates this guy sharing the same name.
It’s also notable that the ONLY Michael McKean in the database hails from Seminole, Florida. If the name was THAT common there should be more listings.
Hail to the bus driver man
I wonder if he has old /\/\oto gear bolted under the dash of his school bus and a blue light under the seat in case he feels the need to pull over someone between bus stop. God bless you bus driver man, this is YOUR fifteen minutes.
“Unlawful Installation of Radio Equipment”
What charge is that? The Florida Mobile Scanner Law?
He is in fact KI4PYY.
The arrest record address matches.
http://pcsoweb.com/Inmate/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1223575
“He is in fact KI4PYY.
The arrest record address matches.”
The FCC don’t like felons having ham tickets. Check the recent enforcement logs. They’re pulling tickets because of it.
Now in Michigan it’s a different story. Our recent scanner law change says that felons aren’t allowed to possess police scanners at all, even at home, *unless* they are hams.
Go figure….
Hey, ya got to love MICHIGAN!!!!
Firt of all McKean was a Police Officer certified at the Connecticut State Police Academy through the years of April 1986 through 1992. He also served as a military Police Officer from 1982-1988 (1982-85 active 85-88 reserve). The Connecticut State Police badge in his possession was presented to him through legal means and was on his person as a momento not for any illegal activities (It was a bad decision but the sudden loss of his chosenn career has stuck with him). He has decided from this point forward is a new life and time to let go of the past…so this was a good eye opener. The Blue Light was leftover from his days as a police officer and a volunteer firefighter. It was not installed nor displayed. McKean provived valid prescription proof for medications at his initial hearing and the charges should be dropped as per FL Statutes 499.03 and 893.13 (which states that if the person in question has a legal prescription for the controlled substances and they are obtained through a legal physician these statutes DO NOT APPLY.) The problem was he was carrying these medications in one of those pill cases available at any pharmacy…so beware you MUST carry all prescriptions in their orginal bottles. The scanner in the car was legally installed in accordance with FCC and State Statute 843.65 which allows such equipment to be installed in a vehicle as long as the owner has a valid ham operators license. McKean also serves as a volunteer for disaster assistance so monitioring on time data is pertenant.The radar unit had been installed two days before this incident and was there because McKean was attempting to gather data for a petetion for speed bumps to be installed on his roadway due numerous speeders in a zone where there are several BUS stops and a city park. McKean does regret his actions on the date in question he was trying to obtain the linse plate number of a car traveling at 63 MPH in a 45 zone approaching a school cross walk so he could notify the appropriate authorities. Mckean only “overtook” the vehicle in question when traffic caused the Detectives car to slow down. Mckean pulled into left hand lane legally and did state “could you slow down”. Bad decision on his part and he takes full responsibility for his errors and extends his apologies to those who may have been affected by this incident. The truth will come out and let us not forget the same liberties provided to us to operate as ham radio operators also provides us with the rights of being innocent until proven guilty. Additionally what the press has released is not the whole truth. Please to those out there do not carry your medications outside of their bottles because the bail is hirer for that then dealing drugs. 73’s Michael
Sorry for numerous typo’s in above message I have a disorder which affects my ability to use my hands. Regards…Michael