Sun 7 Jun 2009
We’ve been in London, Ontario over the weekend for a wedding. We drove back today and crossed into the US through Port Huron, MI. As we drove up to the checkpoint, I rolled down the window and handed the customs guy our passports. He asked where we lived and where we’ve been, and then scanned the passports. As soon as he scanned my passport, alarms went off and a half-dozen customs officers surrounded my car. They made me shut off the car and get out, then raise my hands and walk backwards until I was behind the car. Then I had to put my hands behind my back and lean forward. They cuffed me and hauled me off to a detention cell. Then they did the same thing to Sarah.
Once inside they asked me a few questions about where I lived and what my SSN was. After a few minutes they uncuffed me and let me out of the cell. Sarah was already uncuffed by then. Apparently they had an APB on a guy using my exact name with the exact same date of birth. He’s considered armed and dangerous, so they weren’t taking any chances. I think his description must be very different than mine, because the customs guy in the booth seemed to know right away I wasn’t their man, but because two items matched (name and DOB) they had to take me in until they were sure.
Quite the experience, though. I wonder what all the people in line behind us thought when they saw us both being hauled off in cuffs.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:09 am
[…] crossing the border, but my daughter and son-in-law did. You can read about their adventure here on Mark’s […]
June 11th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Hey Mark – Amazing. I thought you were setting up a joke. Glad they released you!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
It was no joke, although I was amazed at how fast your nose starts itching once you have handcuffs slapped on you.
I got back and checked with the local PD to see if they had any more info and they had no APBs for anyone matching my name. Odd.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Whoa, Mark, that SUCKS. It makes a good story and all, but I think I would have wet my pants had they surrounded my car and taken me into custody.
Ben also thinks that was a sucktastic way to end a very nice weekend.
BTW, we thought that it was very nice to meet you. 😀 Too bad the border guards didn’t feel the same.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
That’s quite the story. Next time you come up and visit all us Canucks (if you ever do) I hope things go better.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Wow. While I was hoping our wedding would be memorable, that’s not quite what I had in mind! Glad to know you both survived!