AMBRIDGE, Pa. (AP) — Now this is a story all about how a high school student’s life got turned upside down. But it was all just a bad rap.
The teen’s voicemail greeting trigged a lockdown at his Pennsylvania school after a receptionist misheard his rendition of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song.
While trying to confirm an appointment with 19-year-old Travis Clawson the receptionist thought the message said “shooting people outside of the school.” The line is actually “shooting some b-ball,” a reference to basketball.
The receptionist called 911 and Economy police arrested Clawson a short time later at Ambridge Area High School, but released him once he explained the message.
Acting police Chief James Mann says police acted “appropriately” out of concern for students’ welfare.
Seriously though, in a situation like this that is how the police react and will always justify the arrest with protecting our children. They probably tasered and tackled the kid just to be safe.
yes this happened not too far from me…the police in south western PA do at least 2 or 3 funny things each week.
my favorite is still a few years ago they had the SWAT team trying to extract a guy with a gun from a house…they spent a few hours trying to contact him, then fired tear gas into the house…waited a while longer…no response…then the guy walked out the front door of the house across the street…awesome.