Nerdy 14 year old brings homemade clock to school and is arrested

[goose]

After school resource officers determined the device was not a bomb, Boyd said, officers investigated whether Mohamed brought the device to school with the intent to create alarm. Boyd said it was against the law to make a hoax bomb and cause people to be scared and call law enforcement.

The school principal or vice principal and officers talked to Mohamed as they tried to figure out what was happening, Boyd said.

"There were factors and details to this that for whatever reason weren't shared at the time," Boyd said. "Once we were able to get all of that information, that allowed us to get to the point where we could settle the matter."

http://news.yahoo.com/police-review-han ... nance.html

Something that I saw mentioned that hasn't been repeated is that he didn't really build anything. Reportedly he took apart an alarm clock that was bought at walmart and just reassembled it in a large briefcase styled pencil case. When questioned by cops trying to figure out why , his motive and reasoning, he was reticulant and would just repeat that it was just a clock but not why he brought it to school or any explanation for why he put it together so it looked like it did.Or at least that was the impression the report gave. I don't know how accurate that is or if the explanations we have been hearing just came later and who knows what the cops were told.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/da ... /72339246/

Found a report from a local station. The kid plugged the thing in after being told by a different teacher that he should put the clock away and not show it because someone might think it's a bomb.

According to Irving police, Ahmed's case contained a digital clock that the student had taken apart and rearranged. Police said the student had the briefcase in his English class, where he plugged it into an electrical outlet and it started to make noise.

and

Officers said Ahmed was being "passive aggressive" in his answers to their questions, and didn't have a "reasonable answer" as to what he was doing with the case. Investigators said the student told them that it was just a clock that he was messing around with.

"We attempted to question the juvenile about what it was and he would simply only say it was a clock. He didn't offer any explanation as to what it was for, why he created this device, why he brought it to school," said James McLellan, Irving Police.

So I have less sympathy after reading this. The arrest might not have been necessary but it seems legal and a decision made by police not the school. This is a device that most people view as resembling a bomb. The kid was told not to show it because people might think it was a bomb. He thin plugged it in and had it start beeping in the middle of an english class. Then wouldn't explain why he brought it to school or what the purpose of it was.

My issue with this whole mess is that, IMO, even these articles you reference indicate that there was never a bomb scare. If a teacher told him to keep it, carry it around but not show anyone, we are dealing with a behavioral discipline issue not a bomb issue hoax or otherwise. When was the last time police were called and an arrest made because a kid didn't follow instructions to keep something quiet? The device was making noise, a discipline issue. Take it away. Give him detention. Heck, suspend him for disrupting class. That I would get. Kids have been bringing all kinds of classroom disruptions to school for years. I just don't understand the cops and the handcuffs if no one thought it was an issue until it beeped and disrupted class. I guess I don;t have any skin in this game. And we don't even have to agree. I just don't get the ride downtown.

[goose]

I guess I don't have any skin in this game. And we don't even have to agree. I just don't get the ride downtown.

This is not true. We all have skin in this game. The reason I have invested my time into this discussion is that we all are subject to taking a ride downtown. I really want those rides to be for halfway decent reasons. As I said, I just don't get this one.

EEllis, I hope that we have gotten here cordially. I have to go mostly offline for the weekend. (edited to correct spelling)

[VMI77]

http://blogs.artvoice.com/techvoice/201 ... ourselves/

After seeing this photo and reading the analysis in the article I'm convinced the kid didn't invent or build anything. He took an old Micronta digital clock apart and put it in a case to hide that fact....to make it look handmade. What it looks like to me is that he took the clock apart to make it look like he constructed something and then claimed to have made or invented a clock. From everything I've seen published on this my guess is that his reaction to being questioned was the product of embarrassment and guilty knowledge....he knew he hadn't actually made or invented what he was taking credit for.

I almost posted here about this yesterday, but the only source I had was several people on different forums say that they were engineers and it was nothing more than a regular clock taken apart. That's pretty hilarious to me considering the invite from Obama within hours.

The advantage of being cultural Marxists like Obama and those in the MSM is that you never have to concern yourself with reality or truth, just advancing the narrative.

[EEllis]

Well the reports indicated that the device was taken by a teacher and was found not to be a bomb by school resource officers. The police were called not on a bomb but a hoax device. It certainly seems to give what many people believe to be the impression of a possible bomb. Then you add in the situation, plugging in the device drawing attention to it in an english class. The refusal to give any explanation. You certainly have the framework for charges. I tend not to second guess people on site unless I have some reason and I haven't seen that here. :shrug: Seems like the kid brought the grief on himself.

I'm not sure that is factual. It certainly doesn't square with initial versions, where the teacher and the officer said that the student repeatedly claimed it was a clock, and only that, that several hours elapsed between the first teacher seeing it and the cops getting a call. Of course, once the press conference with CAIR and lawyers was held, and Obama tweeted an invite, the networks started running with it and asking questions, the stakes got higher and stories refined.

If there was a rational fear of a possible bomb, and no evacuation ordered, that seems like a problem.

I didn't think you have to second guess. The first guess is appalling enough.

You might be right but the idea that the cops were called because ofva hoax bomb sure fits the actions better than the narrative pushed by the MSM. Inbound also note that it's the local source which I linked that describes the situation as thus. To be honest the way you describe it above matches that story pretty well. Teacher takes a fake bomb from kid. Teacher gives to admit. Administration looks then calls school resource officers. Everyone is sure it's not a bomb but sure resembles such. Discussion occurs where the idea of it being a hoax bomb is brought forth and if cops should be called. It's decided that it's disconcerting enough that police should be informed. Cops come and kid is pulled out of class. Kid is questioned but just says that device is a clock but isn't forthcoming for why he rearranged clock in case. Why he brought it to school. Why he was playing with it in English class. Why it looks like a bomb. Just that it's a clock. So they booked him. Personally I'm not found of the whole arrest and let the da decide thing but that is entirely consistent with your timeliness.

[EEllis]

After school resource officers determined the device was not a bomb, Boyd said, officers investigated whether Mohamed brought the device to school with the intent to create alarm. Boyd said it was against the law to make a hoax bomb and cause people to be scared and call law enforcement.

The school principal or vice principal and officers talked to Mohamed as they tried to figure out what was happening, Boyd said.

"There were factors and details to this that for whatever reason weren't shared at the time," Boyd said. "Once we were able to get all of that information, that allowed us to get to the point where we could settle the matter."

http://news.yahoo.com/police-review-han ... nance.html

Something that I saw mentioned that hasn't been repeated is that he didn't really build anything. Reportedly he took apart an alarm clock that was bought at walmart and just reassembled it in a large briefcase styled pencil case. When questioned by cops trying to figure out why , his motive and reasoning, he was reticulant and would just repeat that it was just a clock but not why he brought it to school or any explanation for why he put it together so it looked like it did.Or at least that was the impression the report gave. I don't know how accurate that is or if the explanations we have been hearing just came later and who knows what the cops were told.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/da ... /72339246/

Found a report from a local station. The kid plugged the thing in after being told by a different teacher that he should put the clock away and not show it because someone might think it's a bomb.

According to Irving police, Ahmed's case contained a digital clock that the student had taken apart and rearranged. Police said the student had the briefcase in his English class, where he plugged it into an electrical outlet and it started to make noise.

and

Officers said Ahmed was being "passive aggressive" in his answers to their questions, and didn't have a "reasonable answer" as to what he was doing with the case. Investigators said the student told them that it was just a clock that he was messing around with.

"We attempted to question the juvenile about what it was and he would simply only say it was a clock. He didn't offer any explanation as to what it was for, why he created this device, why he brought it to school," said James McLellan, Irving Police.

So I have less sympathy after reading this. The arrest might not have been necessary but it seems legal and a decision made by police not the school. This is a device that most people view as resembling a bomb. The kid was told not to show it because people might think it was a bomb. He thin plugged it in and had it start beeping in the middle of an english class. Then wouldn't explain why he brought it to school or what the purpose of it was.

My issue with this whole mess is that, IMO, even these articles you reference indicate that there was never a bomb scare. If a teacher told him to keep it, carry it around but not show anyone, we are dealing with a behavioral discipline issue not a bomb issue hoax or otherwise. When was the last time police were called and an arrest made because a kid didn't follow instructions to keep something quiet? The device was making noise, a discipline issue. Take it away. Give him detention. Heck, suspend him for disrupting class. That I would get. Kids have been bringing all kinds of classroom disruptions to school for years. I just don't understand the cops and the handcuffs if no one thought it was an issue until it beeped and disrupted class. I guess I don;t have any skin in this game. And we don't even have to agree. I just don't get the ride downtown.

It was a criminal investigation about a hoax bomb. That is a issue for police.

[goose]

After school resource officers determined the device was not a bomb, Boyd said, officers investigated whether Mohamed brought the device to school with the intent to create alarm. Boyd said it was against the law to make a hoax bomb and cause people to be scared and call law enforcement.

The school principal or vice principal and officers talked to Mohamed as they tried to figure out what was happening, Boyd said.

"There were factors and details to this that for whatever reason weren't shared at the time," Boyd said. "Once we were able to get all of that information, that allowed us to get to the point where we could settle the matter."

http://news.yahoo.com/police-review-han ... nance.html

Something that I saw mentioned that hasn't been repeated is that he didn't really build anything. Reportedly he took apart an alarm clock that was bought at walmart and just reassembled it in a large briefcase styled pencil case. When questioned by cops trying to figure out why , his motive and reasoning, he was reticulant and would just repeat that it was just a clock but not why he brought it to school or any explanation for why he put it together so it looked like it did.Or at least that was the impression the report gave. I don't know how accurate that is or if the explanations we have been hearing just came later and who knows what the cops were told.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/da ... /72339246/

Found a report from a local station. The kid plugged the thing in after being told by a different teacher that he should put the clock away and not show it because someone might think it's a bomb.

According to Irving police, Ahmed's case contained a digital clock that the student had taken apart and rearranged. Police said the student had the briefcase in his English class, where he plugged it into an electrical outlet and it started to make noise.

and

Officers said Ahmed was being "passive aggressive" in his answers to their questions, and didn't have a "reasonable answer" as to what he was doing with the case. Investigators said the student told them that it was just a clock that he was messing around with.

"We attempted to question the juvenile about what it was and he would simply only say it was a clock. He didn't offer any explanation as to what it was for, why he created this device, why he brought it to school," said James McLellan, Irving Police.

So I have less sympathy after reading this. The arrest might not have been necessary but it seems legal and a decision made by police not the school. This is a device that most people view as resembling a bomb. The kid was told not to show it because people might think it was a bomb. He thin plugged it in and had it start beeping in the middle of an english class. Then wouldn't explain why he brought it to school or what the purpose of it was.

My issue with this whole mess is that, IMO, even these articles you reference indicate that there was never a bomb scare. If a teacher told him to keep it, carry it around but not show anyone, we are dealing with a behavioral discipline issue not a bomb issue hoax or otherwise. When was the last time police were called and an arrest made because a kid didn't follow instructions to keep something quiet? The device was making noise, a discipline issue. Take it away. Give him detention. Heck, suspend him for disrupting class. That I would get. Kids have been bringing all kinds of classroom disruptions to school for years. I just don't understand the cops and the handcuffs if no one thought it was an issue until it beeped and disrupted class. I guess I don;t have any skin in this game. And we don't even have to agree. I just don't get the ride downtown.

It was a criminal investigation about a hoax bomb. That is a issue for police.

If there was a criminal investigation going on, I hope they offered him legal counsel and such. I honestly know nothing about how that works with minors.

[VMI77]

Well the reports indicated that the device was taken by a teacher and was found not to be a bomb by school resource officers. The police were called not on a bomb but a hoax device. It certainly seems to give what many people believe to be the impression of a possible bomb. Then you add in the situation, plugging in the device drawing attention to it in an english class. The refusal to give any explanation. You certainly have the framework for charges. I tend not to second guess people on site unless I have some reason and I haven't seen that here. :shrug: Seems like the kid brought the grief on himself.

I'm not sure that is factual. It certainly doesn't square with initial versions, where the teacher and the officer said that the student repeatedly claimed it was a clock, and only that, that several hours elapsed between the first teacher seeing it and the cops getting a call. Of course, once the press conference with CAIR and lawyers was held, and Obama tweeted an invite, the networks started running with it and asking questions, the stakes got higher and stories refined.

If there was a rational fear of a possible bomb, and no evacuation ordered, that seems like a problem.

I didn't think you have to second guess. The first guess is appalling enough.

You might be right but the idea that the cops were called because ofva hoax bomb sure fits the actions better than the narrative pushed by the MSM. Inbound also note that it's the local source which I linked that describes the situation as thus. To be honest the way you describe it above matches that story pretty well. Teacher takes a fake bomb from kid. Teacher gives to admit. Administration looks then calls school resource officers. Everyone is sure it's not a bomb but sure resembles such. Discussion occurs where the idea of it being a hoax bomb is brought forth and if cops should be called. It's decided that it's disconcerting enough that police should be informed. Cops come and kid is pulled out of class. Kid is questioned but just says that device is a clock but isn't forthcoming for why he rearranged clock in case. Why he brought it to school. Why he was playing with it in English class. Why it looks like a bomb. Just that it's a clock. So they booked him. Personally I'm not found of the whole arrest and let the da decide thing but that is entirely consistent with your timeliness.

You and others keep saying it looks like a bomb or a hoax bomb...hooey. As the photo above shows it looks like, and is, a disassembled alarm clock. I get that scientific and technical knowledge in this country is at pretty pathetic levels, but one would pretty much have to be a technophobe or have a pretty lurid imagination to turn something so obviously prosaic into an explosive device. The idea of a hoax bomb is to make people think it's a bomb. That could have easily been accomplished by adding something that could be mistaken for an explosive charge. That "hoax bomb" wouldn't have hoaxed my grandma.

I guess we need a new law making it illegal to disassemble an alarm clock, or defining disassembled alarm clocks as "hoax bombs," otherwise, charging this kid with a crime like making a hoax bomb, and getting it to stick, may be a little difficult.

[EEllis]

I guess I don't have any skin in this game. And we don't even have to agree. I just don't get the ride downtown.

This is not true. We all have skin in this game. The reason I have invested my time into this discussion is that we all are subject to taking a ride downtown. I really want those rides to be for halfway decent reasons. As I said, I just don't get this one.

EEllis, I hope that we have gotten here cordially. I have to go mostly offline for the weekend. (edited to correct spelling)

As far as I'm concerned we're good

[EEllis]

[

If there was a criminal investigation going on, I hope they offered him legal counsel and such. I honestly know nothing about how that works with minors.

If they did something they shouldn't then they can't use what info they acquired. I assume they conducted themselves in a legal manner mainly because it's in their own self interest.

[jimlongley]

This is how the waters get tested and the frog ends up getting boiled. There is more here than meets the eye. Common sense tells you not to bring that thing to school. Another agenda is in play here!

Be realistic. He is just 14 yrs old US kid, no malicious connections with anyone else.

Be realistic, how many 14 and under bombers have there been?

And as more of the story comes out, he didn't invent a thing, he just disassembled something and put it in a box that actually enhanced the image of bomb.

[EEllis]

You and others keep saying it looks like a bomb or a hoax bomb...hooey. As the photo above shows it looks like, and is, a disassembled alarm clock. I get that scientific and technical knowledge in this country is at pretty pathetic levels, but one would pretty much have to be a technophobe or have a pretty lurid imagination to turn something so obviously prosaic into an explosive device. The idea of a hoax bomb is to make people think it's a bomb. That could have easily been accomplished by adding something that could be mistaken for an explosive charge. That "hoax bomb" wouldn't have hoaxed my grandma.

I guess we need a new law making it illegal to disassemble an alarm clock, or defining disassembled alarm clocks as "hoax bombs," otherwise, charging this kid with a crime like making a hoax bomb, and getting it to stick, may be a little difficult.

What I keep saying is that a lot of people have said that they think it appears like it was meant to look like a bomb. Guess what gets used to make bombs. Things like clocks. It has an alarm circuit so it can be made into a timer for a bomb. That some disagree means little but why rearrange this clock into said case? Why would that be something to show off? Why is it such a bizarre idea that the 14yo might have thought making something resembling a bomb was cool? Because he didn't do a good enough job? Well if he thinks repositioning clock parts is noteworthy maybe the not very bomb like hoax bomb was the best he could do?

[Taypo]

You and others keep saying it looks like a bomb or a hoax bomb...hooey. As the photo above shows it looks like, and is, a disassembled alarm clock. I get that scientific and technical knowledge in this country is at pretty pathetic levels, but one would pretty much have to be a technophobe or have a pretty lurid imagination to turn something so obviously prosaic into an explosive device. The idea of a hoax bomb is to make people think it's a bomb. That could have easily been accomplished by adding something that could be mistaken for an explosive charge. That "hoax bomb" wouldn't have hoaxed my grandma.

I guess we need a new law making it illegal to disassemble an alarm clock, or defining disassembled alarm clocks as "hoax bombs," otherwise, charging this kid with a crime like making a hoax bomb, and getting it to stick, may be a little difficult.

At this point, anyone who thinks it looks like a bomb is obviously an idiot because there's no big cannonball with a burning fuse in there to make it go boom? We're supposed to be impressed that little Ahmed is smart enough to buy a clock, dismantle a clock and put it back together again inside a suitcase, for no apparent reason, nefarious or otherwise?

[jimlongley]

. . .

I did somewhat notice that. The photo seems to show a digital clock taken apart and put in a large pencil box. It wasn't like he took components and designed a digital clock. So the thought that he is the next Nick Tesla may be premature.

I'm still of the belief this was an internal school matter, not a police matter.

If the boy's original intent was to get his 15 minutes of fame, everyone certainly did there best to help him.

BTW, I said Nick Tesla because I had trouble coming up with a real inventor. Seems Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, the Wright Bros, etc. didn't invent as much as I thought.

Actually, most "inventors" were more like developers. Morse took Henry's conversation with him about magnetism and parlayed his knowledge of European semaphore telegraphs into an electrical one, and most of what he contributed were amorphous ideas put into practice by Alfred Vail. Even the "Morse Code" was developed by Vail, and eventually Vail decided he wasn't getting enough credit. Bell was trying to develop an "harmonic telegraph" as were others, it being inconvenient to send multiple signals on the single wires that were now strung all over the continent, and his assistant, Watson, misadjusted the receiver, resulting in his hearing Bell's voice come out of the apparatus when Bell, apparently not able to care for himself, spilled acid on his pants and shouted "Mr. Watson, Come her, I need you."

Thus Edison's remark that "Genius is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration."

[C-dub]

Now that we've established that the kid didn't actually make a clock, has anyone caught that it wasn't even a clock in the normal sense of the word? He tweaked it to be a countdown clock.

That’s what you call an admission of premeditation and intent. In his own words, with forethought, he knew the briefcase with wires and “a countdown clock” would be “suspicious”; especially around 9/11.

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/201 ... -activist/

[VMI77]

You and others keep saying it looks like a bomb or a hoax bomb...hooey. As the photo above shows it looks like, and is, a disassembled alarm clock. I get that scientific and technical knowledge in this country is at pretty pathetic levels, but one would pretty much have to be a technophobe or have a pretty lurid imagination to turn something so obviously prosaic into an explosive device. The idea of a hoax bomb is to make people think it's a bomb. That could have easily been accomplished by adding something that could be mistaken for an explosive charge. That "hoax bomb" wouldn't have hoaxed my grandma.

I guess we need a new law making it illegal to disassemble an alarm clock, or defining disassembled alarm clocks as "hoax bombs," otherwise, charging this kid with a crime like making a hoax bomb, and getting it to stick, may be a little difficult.

What I keep saying is that a lot of people have said that they think it appears like it was meant to look like a bomb. Guess what gets used to make bombs. Things like clocks. It has an alarm circuit so it can be made into a timer for a bomb. That some disagree means little but why rearrange this clock into said case? Why would that be something to show off? Why is it such a bizarre idea that the 14yo might have thought making something resembling a bomb was cool? Because he didn't do a good enough job? Well if he thinks repositioning clock parts is noteworthy maybe the not very bomb like hoax bomb was the best he could do?

As to the red...I already gave my answer in a previous post: putting the disassembled clock in something other than the original enclosure makes it look "homemade." His motive was probably to claim he created something when he actually did not. The case is 8"x5.5"x2"....pretty small...and he didn't add anything that looks like explosive material which would be easy to do. Another reason for the case is to carry the disassembled parts.....how else could he transport his "invention" except in some kind of box?

As to the green....it's not a bizarre idea....why it seems unlikely is that he did nothing to actually make it look like a bomb. He disassembled a clock and put it in a box.If he really wanted to make it look like a bomb, without even faking any explosive, all he had to do was attach the display to the outside of the box and run the ribbon cable from the display into the box. He didn't even need the circuit board, though granted if the clock was displaying numbers it would be a more convincing fake...and the transformer would be completely irrelevant. The transformer lends credence to the claim he intended it to be just a clock as it subtracts from the idea of a bomb rather than adding to it. All the plug-in alarm clocks I've ever purchased have 9V battery backups.

As to the blue....having seen his "creation" I don't assume the kid was particularly smart. And people who try to take credit for inventing something they didn't invent, are rarely smart, are usually trying to compensate for feeling inferior in some way, and lack the integrity to compensate by actually making an effort to improve themselves.

If my interpretation is correct, then the kid not only didn't learn a lesson from this, his attempt for recognition as an "inventor" was rewarded and it will encourage him to continue claiming credit for things he didn't do. If I'm wrong and he intended for it to be taken as a bomb then he's really dumb, on multiple levels beyond just his incompetence in faking a bomb, but the result is the same....he got the attention he wanted and it will encourage him try other stunts or steal credit for other exploits.

Either way the kid was seeking attention and the school and police helped make sure he got a ton of it. Since, obviously, no one really thought it was a bomb, a better approach would have been to take the device from him so he couldn't carry it around school, return it to him when school was over, and tell him and his parents that the school would take disciplinary action if he brought it back.