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TSA detains man for carrying cash
What was he detained for? Carrying $4,700 in cash.
If you watch this video, you'll hear about 2 minutes of back-and-forth between TSA personnel and Bierfeldt in a windowless detention room in the St. Louis airport. The TSA wants to know what Bierfeldt does for a living and why he's carrying that kind of cash. All Bierfeldt asks in reply is whether he's legally required to answer those questions. The audio leaves off with personnel telling Bierfeldt that he's being taken downtown to a regional Drug Enforcement Agency office for further questioning.
Fox New's Freedom Watch, of course, jumps on this like Oprah on a buffet line, flashing a picture of the 25-year-old Bierfeldt and asking, "Is this the face of a terrorist?"
Why was he carrying $4,700? Turns out Bierfeldt was working for an organization called Campaign for Liberty and was returning from a local fundraiser carrying the proceeds from book sales, ticket sales and other merchandise.
Missouri is one of the only states in which law enforcement maintains that the Campaign for Liberty is a terrorist militia group.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Brian Apr 2nd 2009 6:30PM
I think it's important to note that it was Law Enforcement, not the TSA that detained Bierfeldt. The TSA doesn't have the authority to take anyone to the Police Dept. I have worked with the TSA at the St Louis airport and not only is that not something I believe the would do, I believe those in charge wouldn't tolerate it from the screeners.
As for the assertion that Bierfeldt didn't look like a terrorist, neither did Timothy McVeigh.
cherryl Apr 4th 2009 8:42AM
I dont agree that it was law enforcement because they couldnt come up with an answer about taking him down to the police station with a reasonable reason to arrest him. You cant jump to the conclusion of drug money without proof first. So you dont have to explain the money.
Ken Apr 3rd 2009 8:53PM
your an idiot IF it were cops they would have cuffed him. TSA think they can do what ever they want and no one can stop them. I hope they all get fired. I travel over seas every year and you can take up to $10,000 with out reporting it. When did the USA lose all it's freedoms.
Leah Apr 4th 2009 12:00AM
The FULL Audio is here & worth listening to
http://www.dailynewscaster.com/2009/04/02/audio-full-version-steve-bierfeldt-detained-and-questioned-by-st-louis-tsa/comment-page-1/#comment-10181
Brian Apr 4th 2009 8:29AM
Thanks for the link Leah. I haven't had a chance to listen to it but definitely will.
Ken, thanks for your inciteful response.
Maxi Apr 4th 2009 9:23AM
McVeigh had bombs..This guy had money.. Lot of difference there, dont you think?? We all carry cash on vacation, are we all considered a McVeigh?? Ridculous!
Brian Apr 4th 2009 9:43AM
Maxi, how much do you think Timothy McVeigh spent on his explosives? How much do you think it costs to build a bomb to bring a plane down or buy weapons to arm 5 terrorits for a Mumbai style attack. How would someone pay for that? Probably cash based on past instances. Standard operating procedure has been "large" amounts of cash. Large being subjective, even terrorists work on a budget.
I was comparing Bierfeldt to Timothy McVeigh to make the point that profiling someone doesn't work. To say the TSA should only stop middle eastern men between the ages of 17 and 35 is ridiculous. I was not comparing cash to ammonium nitrate (although $4700.00 will get you a lot of that too). I appreciate your comment and thank you for your input on my post.
Brian Apr 4th 2009 9:59AM
I listened to the full audio and can tell you exactly where the St Louis Police came in and took over the interrogation. When Officer Shelton comes in and the TSA agent says he's being a smart ass and he's done with him (Steve Bierfeldt). Assume, assert and disagree all you want but I know this for a fact, aafter that point it was no longer TSA and they probably weren't even in the room any more.
Ken, I also know for a fact that the TSA does not think it can get away with what ever it wants. I won't go so far as calling you an idiot but you are ill-informed and ignorant of your facts.
Trooper Apr 10th 2009 4:31PM
TSA personnel went over the line here and they should be reprimanded. Its this sort of bullshit that leaves such a stigma on the rest of the TSA who actually follow proper procedure. I just want to also add that this guy knew what he was doing as well. I think that this was planned to try and catch TSA giving him hell about all that money he was carrying with him. He carried this cash legally, but he wanted to get stopped by TSA. He already knew exactly what to do, he even sounded scripted on the recording. Unfortunately, the TSA Officers screwed up and the rest is history.
Paul Apr 2nd 2009 6:33PM
Why wouldn't the genius change the cash into a Money order or Cashiers check?! Being a smart ass doesn't help in this day and age. The law is less than $10,000 and he's O.K.. Further more as is stated it was not the TSA who was taking him anywhere, it was the local Police agency.
Louie Apr 4th 2009 2:09AM
First off, at least for the moment, this is still the United States of America my friend, though our former ignorant President, Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the rest of Congress is trying to change that.
If this guy wants to carry that much cash on him, whose business is it of your's, mine, TSA, or any other faction of our government? I say that he owes no one an explanation for having currency in any amount on his person.
We always scream and holler about trying to bring freedom and democracy to the world, yet ours is being eroded more and more, each and every day. Remember, the government can now fire, and remove a private citizen from their job, so, it's only going to get worse.
Money Apr 4th 2009 2:38AM
Hi Paul, Actually there is no law limiting the amount of cash you could carry, I guess law enforcement was a little suspicious with a larger than average amount being carried. I believe you are thinking about the lowest thresh hold amount that needs to be reported when you leave or enter the US that most be declared or you run the risk of losing your money at least temporary until the court date. Regards,
ByebyeAmerica Apr 4th 2009 7:38PM
I don't think he was a smart-ass at ALL...I'm astonished that anyone would defend these puffed-up officials of whatEVER, TSA or local police. Guess what, we have every right to carry cash. My husband is a police officer with actual integrity and this really ticked him off.
LISA Apr 2nd 2009 8:45PM
You should really get your facts straight before you air things like this. TSA has limited authority in these situations. That was the Local Police NOT TSA. I have to listen to smart asses like Bierfeldt everyday. Our jobs are hard enough as is. A simple answer would have been nice. I wonder if it is illegal to record someone without their consent in the state of Missouri. Bottom line is maybe the media shouldn't be commenting on things they know nothing about.
Jim Apr 3rd 2009 10:35PM
Maybe you TSA idiots should start using a little common sense instead of acting like the Gestapo.
Paul Apr 3rd 2009 6:32AM
Sounds like Bierfeldt asked a reasonable question regarding his legal rights. If the interviewer had given him a straight answer, things could have been resolved much quicker. Do American citizens still the right to remain silent? I saw nothing wrong with the attitude of Mr Bierfeldt. He was merely exercising and safeguarding his rights.
David Apr 3rd 2009 10:38AM
1. Whether its taxpayer funded Law Enforcement or the taxpayer funded TSA they vow to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.
You work for the Citizens of America . No one else.
So you will obey the US Constitution.
2. Treating someone a certain way because someone looks like something is a VIOLATION of the US Constitution and can be and will be used against you in a court of law.
3. Recording someone violating the US Constitution can be and will be used as evidence in a court of law.
4. Your job is no harder than anyone else. You should feel good that you have a job considering the times we live in and grateful that the American taxpayer is paying for your income.
5. The media has a right to report on anything they want to in any way they see fit. If you dont like what they say and feel it is defamation of your character you can take the media to court and use your taxpayer fed income to pay for it.
ed Apr 3rd 2009 11:15PM
well put. i get tired of people blaming their jobs on inapropriate behavior. i worked construction all of my life, sometimes in 100 degree weather or freezing. we still had rules to follow. if you can't handle your job, step aside for someone who can. oh, and i like your other points as well. thanks :)
MEDIA SUX Apr 4th 2009 2:42AM
YEAH OUR GESTAPO MEDIA CAN AND WILL DO AND SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT REGARDLESS OF THE TRUTH OR WHO IT HURTS.GOOD LUCK SUEING THEM THOUGH!! THEY HAVE FAR MORE MONEY THEN YOU COULD EVER HAVE AND THEY OWN MANY OF THE JUDGES AND LAWYERS ALSO. NICE NAZI MEDIA AND THOSE LIKE YOU THAT THEY THEY ARE OMNIPOTENT!! MOST MEDIA SHOULD BE SHOT LIKE THE NAZI DOGS THEY ARE...I'M JUST SAYING =D
Mixer Apr 3rd 2009 12:05PM
Paul - "Being a smart ass doesn't help in this day and age."
I kind of think that was the point. We've become the sort of nation where we do not question authority of any kind, giving that authority power beyond thier station. I agree that he probably would have made his flight if he'd just answer what seemed to me to be reasonable questions, but some people have drawn a line in the sand; they say they are not going to give power to someone beyond the limts of thier authority. Would it have been okay if the officer queried about his marital status, recent bank transactions, or outstanding parking tickets he may have had? And why would those be less relevant than "he's carrying more than $50"? For some people, carrying a few thousand in cash isn't that unusual at all. I'd be miffed if I was taking a large chunk of cash on the plane (say, travelling to the VI or Las Vegas or Atlantic City and was using cash to make sure I didn't overspend) and was detained because of it.
He never refused to answer anything - he just asked if he was legally required to answer. Why could the police not answer that question? Could it be that he didn't - because no crime had been committed and he wasn't under arrest - so therefore they knew they were overstepping thier bounds? One of the reasons we have laws is to ensure that everyone follows the same rules; once we leave the rule-setting up to individuals (i.e. - allowing the police to question someone illegally for the sake of convenience), we have despotism leading to anarchy. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of either despotism or anarchy.
Personally, I wouldn't have taken it as far as he did. I probably would have thrown some accusations back at them (Are you accusing me of being involved with drugs? Do you suspect that I'm a drug dealer? In what way is having this cash a threat to the security of the plane and it's passengers?), just to see the reactions, but I wouldn't have spent nearly a half-hour doing it.