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The Seattle Times is the first I know of to put up video interviews with some of the people involved in Colton’s chase and capture in the Bahamas. At least one TV newsmagazine and a documentarian also taped interviews with the players in the days after the arrest, so expect to see those in time.
Since I was working on the book and didn’t want to seem like the vanguard of a media invasion when I got there the morning of Colt’s capture, I didn’t whip out my video camera. So this is definitely worth a look, especially to see Kenneth Strachan — a real good guy — tell his story. “Oh, that’s Bandit!”
I don't think Kenneth had slept a wink between the 3 a.m. capture and when I saw him several hours later, he was so excited. He's the man most responsible for "Bandit"s arrest, but listen to him talk about 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore at the end of the interview.
Seattle Times Colt Capture Video Interviews
P.S.: There are now a couple versions of exactly when Colton put the gun to his head -- right away or after the police firing -- but I’ll have that fact straightened in upcoming interviews.
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Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE "FLIGHT RISK"
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Well, Colton had another “day” in court: Approximately eight minutes in front of Judge Brian Tsuchida at the US Courthouse in Seattle. I don’t think anyone expected an escapee who’s led all kinds of law enforcement on a chase that spanned three countries to get bail, and his attorney didn’t argue for it.
An Assistant US Attorney presented the argument that because Harris-Moore is believed to have flown as many as five airplanes without proper training — as well as allegedly taking a shot at police and aiming a laser gun sight at a homeowner in South Dakota — that he is an obvious danger to the community as well as a flight risk.
On the community side, I can tell you that there has been a collective sigh of relief here on Orcas Island now that Colton is in custody and we know he won’t be coming back this summer. Whether you believed he was dangerous or not, or even if you felt sorry for some aspects of Colton’s early life, the unnerving thought was never far from your mind that he might be there, watching from the woods — and we have lots of woods. You never felt that you, your family or your property were completely safe when he was on the island. Now, the island’s small business owners who lost money during burglaries and had to put out more for new security systems hope that they can go back to only worrying that the tourist season shapes up good enough to get them through next winter.
For those who’ve stayed at a distance from this story, it’s always been easy (and lazy) to head to the black and white extremes, to firmly stand either with the Colton fans or those gunning for him to “Stick his head in my house” so they could blow it off. But to get closer to understanding, and to see the gray areas that reside in every story and in every life, you’ve got to empathize. And in this story, that means both with Colton and with the many victims.
After the court appearance, Colton’s defense attorney, John Henry Brown, passed a message to the media he says was from Colt, basically saying “Kids don’t try this at home…”
Or on the run.
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Well, Colton had another “day” in court: Approximately eight minutes in front of Judge Brian Tsuchida at the US Courthouse in Seattle. I don’t think anyone expected an escapee who’s led all kinds of law enforcement on a chase that spanned three countries to get bail, and his attorney didn’t argue for it.
An Assistant US Attorney presented the argument that because Harris-Moore is believed to have flown as many as five airplanes without proper training — as well as allegedly taking a shot at police and aiming a laser gun sight at a homeowner in South Dakota — that he is an obvious danger to the community as well as a flight risk.
On the community side, I can tell you that there has been a collective sigh of relief here on Orcas Island now that Colton is in custody and we know he won’t be coming back this summer. Whether you believed he was dangerous or not, or even if you felt sorry for some aspects of Colton’s early life, the unnerving thought was never far from your mind that he might be there, watching from the woods — and we have lots of woods. You never felt that you, your family or your property were completely safe when he was on the island. Now, the island’s small business owners who lost money during burglaries and had to put out more for new security systems hope that they can go back to only worrying that the tourist season shapes up good enough to get them through next winter.
For those who’ve stayed at a distance from this story, it’s always been easy (and lazy) to head to the black and white extremes, to firmly stand either with the Colton fans or those gunning for him to “Stick his head in my house” so they could blow it off. But to get closer to understanding, and to see the gray areas that reside in every story and in every life, you’ve got to empathize. And in this story, that means both with Colton and with the many victims.
After the court appearance, Colton’s defense attorney, John Henry Brown, passed a message to the media he says was from Colt, basically saying “Kids don’t try this at home…”
Or on the run.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE BACK IN WASHINGTON
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Didn't want to say anything until I saw a picture, but our local King 5 TV got the shot of Colton Harris-Moore deplaning three hours ago (Wed, July 21) at Boeing Field. For those not from the area, SeaTac (Seattle Tacoma) is our main commercial airport, while Boeing Field is the region's main center for General Aviation, charter and transport companies and, of course, Boeing repairs, test flights, etc.
King 5 TV on Colton's Arrival
Colton will now be held in FDC SeaTac and is due for a court appearance tomorrow afternoon. Initial remands and arraignments etc are really nothing substantive so I don't plan to make the trek down. The issue of bail is an interesting one, though. From my understanding, if Colton's lawyer is somehow able to arrange bail for him on the Federal charge, Washington authorities could immediately arrest Colton for the escape and send him to begin serving out the remaining two years or so of his original sentence. (But I am not a lawyer, I don't even play one on TV, and thus my legal speculation is worthless.)
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Didn't want to say anything until I saw a picture, but our local King 5 TV got the shot of Colton Harris-Moore deplaning three hours ago (Wed, July 21) at Boeing Field. For those not from the area, SeaTac (Seattle Tacoma) is our main commercial airport, while Boeing Field is the region's main center for General Aviation, charter and transport companies and, of course, Boeing repairs, test flights, etc.
King 5 TV on Colton's Arrival
Colton will now be held in FDC SeaTac and is due for a court appearance tomorrow afternoon. Initial remands and arraignments etc are really nothing substantive so I don't plan to make the trek down. The issue of bail is an interesting one, though. From my understanding, if Colton's lawyer is somehow able to arrange bail for him on the Federal charge, Washington authorities could immediately arrest Colton for the escape and send him to begin serving out the remaining two years or so of his original sentence. (But I am not a lawyer, I don't even play one on TV, and thus my legal speculation is worthless.)
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE NPR's Here & Now
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This is a short interview I did with National Public Radio's Robin Young while I was still in the Bahamas. Scroll down to the Colt story and click "Listen."
NPR's Here and Now
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This is a short interview I did with National Public Radio's Robin Young while I was still in the Bahamas. Scroll down to the Colt story and click "Listen."
NPR's Here and Now
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COLTON HARRIS-MOORE Transportation Questions
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The Federal Marshals try to keep their JPATS (a.k.a. Con Air) plans secret, and understandably so. So I don’t know exactly when Colton will be transported from the Federal Detention Center Miami to FDC Seatac. ASAP seems to be the answer, but like the commercial airlines, the Feds don’t like to fly cross country with too many empty seats.
It’s amazing how many different elements can be brought into a story. I received this note from a reader this morning:
“long plane trips can cause DVT [deep vein thrombosis], and it can happen to anyone at any age...recent news reports indicate Colton will be chained to his seat for the entire six-hour flight...this is unhealthy and wrong, it could endanger his health...”
It is accurate that the US Marshals keep their prisoners/passengers locked down in their seats, in handcuffs and leg irons. I haven’t gotten an answer to my query about bathroom or DVT breaks, though it makes sense that they’d have made some allowances for bodily functions on a six-hour flight… Of course if you’re transporting Hannibal Lecter, putting him in a diaper might be the safest way to go. Colton, obviously, is no Lecter, but the Marshals do feel he’s a flight risk.
My mom was a nurse (and in reality, they never STOP being nurses) for way more years than she’d want me to publicize. And as I’ve been traveling the world on hundreds and hundreds of long-haul flights over the past decades, she was after me early on about the dangers of DVT, deep vein thrombosis. As a sidebar health note, here is a link the reader sent about DVT, which we should all be aware of:
Deep Vein Thrombosis
When I get more info about how Colton is to be/was transported, I’ll post.
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The Federal Marshals try to keep their JPATS (a.k.a. Con Air) plans secret, and understandably so. So I don’t know exactly when Colton will be transported from the Federal Detention Center Miami to FDC Seatac. ASAP seems to be the answer, but like the commercial airlines, the Feds don’t like to fly cross country with too many empty seats.
It’s amazing how many different elements can be brought into a story. I received this note from a reader this morning:
“long plane trips can cause DVT [deep vein thrombosis], and it can happen to anyone at any age...recent news reports indicate Colton will be chained to his seat for the entire six-hour flight...this is unhealthy and wrong, it could endanger his health...”
It is accurate that the US Marshals keep their prisoners/passengers locked down in their seats, in handcuffs and leg irons. I haven’t gotten an answer to my query about bathroom or DVT breaks, though it makes sense that they’d have made some allowances for bodily functions on a six-hour flight… Of course if you’re transporting Hannibal Lecter, putting him in a diaper might be the safest way to go. Colton, obviously, is no Lecter, but the Marshals do feel he’s a flight risk.
My mom was a nurse (and in reality, they never STOP being nurses) for way more years than she’d want me to publicize. And as I’ve been traveling the world on hundreds and hundreds of long-haul flights over the past decades, she was after me early on about the dangers of DVT, deep vein thrombosis. As a sidebar health note, here is a link the reader sent about DVT, which we should all be aware of:
Deep Vein Thrombosis
When I get more info about how Colton is to be/was transported, I’ll post.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE RON & DON RADIO INTERVIEW
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Ron and Don are, like Bob Rivers, top radio personalities in the Seattle area. These guys have followed the story for a long time and understand it. This is a long interview, but it will save me from writing a lengthy blog post because somewhere toward the end it includes my telling of the incredible last moments of Colton's long run.
Bob Friel with Ron and Don
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Ron and Don are, like Bob Rivers, top radio personalities in the Seattle area. These guys have followed the story for a long time and understand it. This is a long interview, but it will save me from writing a lengthy blog post because somewhere toward the end it includes my telling of the incredible last moments of Colton's long run.
Bob Friel with Ron and Don
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE RADIO BOB RIVERS
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I’m doing a few, select media appearances to talk about this story. Because of my unique position with regards to Colton's saga, I’ve been asked by a multitude of media outlets to appear and comment. Now that the danger to Colton and anyone who might have gotten in his way is over, I will do a few select appearances. These are mainly with the regional press here in the Pacific Northwest because they have been following the story the longest and understand it the best.
Since so many of you are outside this market, I’ll post links to anything that is replayed on the web — so you can all hear me say “uh…” and “um…” a dozen times. You'll also see that I have some challenges talking about such a complex story within the tight time constraints of broadcast media... I'm not Mr. Soundbite and rarely do I get out an answer where I don't think to myself "Um, that was only half of my answer... I told you the bad part but didn't get to the good part." I'll have to get better at that.
The first of these appearances is in three parts, an interview I did from the Bahamas yesterday with Bob Rivers. Bob is another one with very close connection to this story: It was his plane that police believe was the very first of Colton’s illicit solo flights. Bob and I also have something very exciting planned that’s going to help me research one particular part of the book. More on that later. First here’s me with Bob Rivers along with Spike and Maura on 102.7 KZOK in Seattle.
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 1
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 2
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 3
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I’m doing a few, select media appearances to talk about this story. Because of my unique position with regards to Colton's saga, I’ve been asked by a multitude of media outlets to appear and comment. Now that the danger to Colton and anyone who might have gotten in his way is over, I will do a few select appearances. These are mainly with the regional press here in the Pacific Northwest because they have been following the story the longest and understand it the best.
Since so many of you are outside this market, I’ll post links to anything that is replayed on the web — so you can all hear me say “uh…” and “um…” a dozen times. You'll also see that I have some challenges talking about such a complex story within the tight time constraints of broadcast media... I'm not Mr. Soundbite and rarely do I get out an answer where I don't think to myself "Um, that was only half of my answer... I told you the bad part but didn't get to the good part." I'll have to get better at that.
The first of these appearances is in three parts, an interview I did from the Bahamas yesterday with Bob Rivers. Bob is another one with very close connection to this story: It was his plane that police believe was the very first of Colton’s illicit solo flights. Bob and I also have something very exciting planned that’s going to help me research one particular part of the book. More on that later. First here’s me with Bob Rivers along with Spike and Maura on 102.7 KZOK in Seattle.
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 1
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 2
Bob Friel on Bob Rivers Part 3
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THANK YOU
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To all those who’ve written me recently about my reporting on this story: I really appreciate the kind words.
Sometimes stories pick the teller, and this one, more than anything else I’ve ever worked on in a very long career, has done just that. The unique position of living on Orcas where Colton chose to come to again and again, that he’s alleged to have stolen from so many people who are my friends and neighbors, the incredible connections and similarities I found as I researched Colton’s life, interests and actions that enable me to empathize — even my long-time connection to the places where this remarkable saga ended — all of this will help me in writing this book.
I’ll post more about the when’s and such about the book, but it’s not an overnight process. Some other publisher may decide to rush out a collection of rewritten press reports in book form to capitalize on all the attention this is receiving now, but I won’t do that. I’ll be working as fast as I can, but I promise I won’t cheat you or this deep, complex and important story by not taking enough time to do the best I can.
I appreciate the interest you have all shown since the very beginning. During this process I will continue to post exclusive information about the story (hopefully you won't mind if I save some really amazing stuff for the book, though), and I'll continue to report on developments in Colton's run through the legal system.
I read all comments and all the personal emails, and I do apologize for any times (past, present and future) when I'm slow in answering questions or when I don't think it's quite the right time for me to comment on something in particular.
Thanks,
Bob
.
To all those who’ve written me recently about my reporting on this story: I really appreciate the kind words.
Sometimes stories pick the teller, and this one, more than anything else I’ve ever worked on in a very long career, has done just that. The unique position of living on Orcas where Colton chose to come to again and again, that he’s alleged to have stolen from so many people who are my friends and neighbors, the incredible connections and similarities I found as I researched Colton’s life, interests and actions that enable me to empathize — even my long-time connection to the places where this remarkable saga ended — all of this will help me in writing this book.
I’ll post more about the when’s and such about the book, but it’s not an overnight process. Some other publisher may decide to rush out a collection of rewritten press reports in book form to capitalize on all the attention this is receiving now, but I won’t do that. I’ll be working as fast as I can, but I promise I won’t cheat you or this deep, complex and important story by not taking enough time to do the best I can.
I appreciate the interest you have all shown since the very beginning. During this process I will continue to post exclusive information about the story (hopefully you won't mind if I save some really amazing stuff for the book, though), and I'll continue to report on developments in Colton's run through the legal system.
I read all comments and all the personal emails, and I do apologize for any times (past, present and future) when I'm slow in answering questions or when I don't think it's quite the right time for me to comment on something in particular.
Thanks,
Bob
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE BACK TO U.S. "IMMEDIATELY"
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I've just left a small Bahamian courtroom that Colton was led to in shackles. There were six or eight American reporters and about an equal number of Bahamian observers in the small room. Part of Colt's shackles were undone when he was put into the dock. He kept his eyes down until we were all told to stand for the judge's arrival.
The charges were read by an immigration official: Entering the Bahamas illegally, without proper passport.
Colt was aked to stand. He stood tall and looked straight at the judge. He was asked how he plead to the charge. Colt said in a deep, calm voice, "Guilty."
A barrister then reported to the judge that Colton said that he swam to the Bahamas, that he didn't have his passport and that he plead guilty to save the court the time and expense of a trial.
Colt stood as the judge read his sentence for the immigration offense: $300 or three months in prison. The judge then overrode that by recommending "immediate deportation."
Everyone stood as court was dismissed. Colt finally looked around, saw me and recognized me, and gave me a big smile.
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I've just left a small Bahamian courtroom that Colton was led to in shackles. There were six or eight American reporters and about an equal number of Bahamian observers in the small room. Part of Colt's shackles were undone when he was put into the dock. He kept his eyes down until we were all told to stand for the judge's arrival.
The charges were read by an immigration official: Entering the Bahamas illegally, without proper passport.
Colt was aked to stand. He stood tall and looked straight at the judge. He was asked how he plead to the charge. Colt said in a deep, calm voice, "Guilty."
A barrister then reported to the judge that Colton said that he swam to the Bahamas, that he didn't have his passport and that he plead guilty to save the court the time and expense of a trial.
Colt stood as the judge read his sentence for the immigration offense: $300 or three months in prison. The judge then overrode that by recommending "immediate deportation."
Everyone stood as court was dismissed. Colt finally looked around, saw me and recognized me, and gave me a big smile.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
Colton Harris-Moore Update
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And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I hate to speculate...
One of my details in the last post proved inaccurate. Colton Harris-Moore will spend at least another day in the Bahamas. Today's news conference is simply to allow more international press to get in on the story. As far as I know now, it will NOT be an announcement that he is to be repatriated before appearing before a Bahamian magistrate.
Other details, though, have been correct. He is not being held in Fox Hill Prison and is in a police station holding cell.
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And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I hate to speculate...
One of my details in the last post proved inaccurate. Colton Harris-Moore will spend at least another day in the Bahamas. Today's news conference is simply to allow more international press to get in on the story. As far as I know now, it will NOT be an announcement that he is to be repatriated before appearing before a Bahamian magistrate.
Other details, though, have been correct. He is not being held in Fox Hill Prison and is in a police station holding cell.
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Sunday, July 11, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE UPDATES
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The information I'm getting now is that Colt is NOT being held at Fox Hill Prison. Good news for Colt if that's true. There are a number of police stations around New Providence, and I hear that he's in a holding cell in either one or a succession of stations.
The Bahamas authorities have called a press conference for tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.My gut is telling me that they're going to back away from their original plan to bring Colt in front of a Bahamian judge on Tuesday and instead send him back to the U.S.
There's a lot of press here now and more coming in tomorrow, so word will get out almost instantly.
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The information I'm getting now is that Colt is NOT being held at Fox Hill Prison. Good news for Colt if that's true. There are a number of police stations around New Providence, and I hear that he's in a holding cell in either one or a succession of stations.
The Bahamas authorities have called a press conference for tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.My gut is telling me that they're going to back away from their original plan to bring Colt in front of a Bahamian judge on Tuesday and instead send him back to the U.S.
There's a lot of press here now and more coming in tomorrow, so word will get out almost instantly.
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COLTON HARRIS-MOORE: GUN TO HIS HEAD?
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Readers are asking about a "suicide attempt." I wouldn't call it that, but a suicide "threat."
A Bahamian policeman who was on the boat that stopped him, one of the guys who fired the shots into the engine, told me this morning that Colt did, indeed, put the pistol he was carrying to his own head and said he would shoot if they tried to take him. Again, the Bahamian officers acted professionaly and held fast, calmly talking to Colt until he put the gun down and then threw it into the water.
Colt could have shot at them, he could have shot himself... Either would have had the same consequences, and the end of his run would have been as final as it gets. But he chose to live.
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Readers are asking about a "suicide attempt." I wouldn't call it that, but a suicide "threat."
A Bahamian policeman who was on the boat that stopped him, one of the guys who fired the shots into the engine, told me this morning that Colt did, indeed, put the pistol he was carrying to his own head and said he would shoot if they tried to take him. Again, the Bahamian officers acted professionaly and held fast, calmly talking to Colt until he put the gun down and then threw it into the water.
Colt could have shot at them, he could have shot himself... Either would have had the same consequences, and the end of his run would have been as final as it gets. But he chose to live.
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WHAT STOPPED COLTON HARRIS-MOORE'S RUN
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The outboards on Colton Harris-Moore's last stolen boat. Bahamian police made sure Colton couldn't keep running by stopping these engines for good with blasts from a shotgun and at least one other weapon. Colt was standing at the controls of this 32-foot Intrepid, just a few feet in front of these engines, but fortunately is okay. The Bahamian police were excellent shots, even at night and from a boat.
Photo copyright 2010 Bob Friel ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE IN CUSTODY
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No secret now: The island I flew to was Eleuthera. I was having a couple Kaliks with a friend at a small bar near the landing where taxi boats run over to Harbour Island. Colt had already been to this bar, taking a little snack food and some drinks earlier in the week. It was Independence Day for the Bahamas, so a friend and I went over to the festival in The Bluff. Not long after we left, Colt showed up at the dock in a little Boston Whaler. He ran it aground on some coral rocks – in full view of a crowd of folks waiting on the dock for a taxi to run them to The Bluff.
Colt got the boat off, then turned off the engine and chatted with a few guys on the dock. He told them who he was and what was going on. A nice friendly chat… One guy opened his cell phone and Colt understood he was calling the police. And Colt wasn’t too upset about that. He wanted a chase. And he got one.
I’ll of course be writing a lot more on this, but it all ended fittingly for the Barefoot Bandit. He ran until the very end. After a boat chase, a land chase and a swim to a speedboat, which he stole. The final chase was two speedboats. Colt ran his onto a sandbar. The other boat with Bahamian Police inside ran close and told him to stop. Colt’s boat was floating off the sandbar and they told me that it was obvious he was going to try to keep running. So they shot out his outboard engines, hitting them with a shotgun and what I think was an automatic rifle.
Colt understood it was serious then. He tried one more thing that I’ll report later, then threw his backpack into the sea and gave up. They retrieved his backpack.
Earlier today, Colt, wearing camo shorts, a blue shirt, a hat and a bullet-proof vest – and shackled hand and foot – was led to a small plane at the North Eleuthera Airport and flown in Bahamian custody to the capital, Nassau.
It’s been quite a run for 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore and it didn't end before he got a chance to experience a paradise, at least for a little while. Unfortunately for him, there will now be a long run through the legal system.
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No secret now: The island I flew to was Eleuthera. I was having a couple Kaliks with a friend at a small bar near the landing where taxi boats run over to Harbour Island. Colt had already been to this bar, taking a little snack food and some drinks earlier in the week. It was Independence Day for the Bahamas, so a friend and I went over to the festival in The Bluff. Not long after we left, Colt showed up at the dock in a little Boston Whaler. He ran it aground on some coral rocks – in full view of a crowd of folks waiting on the dock for a taxi to run them to The Bluff.
Colt got the boat off, then turned off the engine and chatted with a few guys on the dock. He told them who he was and what was going on. A nice friendly chat… One guy opened his cell phone and Colt understood he was calling the police. And Colt wasn’t too upset about that. He wanted a chase. And he got one.
I’ll of course be writing a lot more on this, but it all ended fittingly for the Barefoot Bandit. He ran until the very end. After a boat chase, a land chase and a swim to a speedboat, which he stole. The final chase was two speedboats. Colt ran his onto a sandbar. The other boat with Bahamian Police inside ran close and told him to stop. Colt’s boat was floating off the sandbar and they told me that it was obvious he was going to try to keep running. So they shot out his outboard engines, hitting them with a shotgun and what I think was an automatic rifle.
Colt understood it was serious then. He tried one more thing that I’ll report later, then threw his backpack into the sea and gave up. They retrieved his backpack.
Earlier today, Colt, wearing camo shorts, a blue shirt, a hat and a bullet-proof vest – and shackled hand and foot – was led to a small plane at the North Eleuthera Airport and flown in Bahamian custody to the capital, Nassau.
It’s been quite a run for 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore and it didn't end before he got a chance to experience a paradise, at least for a little while. Unfortunately for him, there will now be a long run through the legal system.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
COLTON HARRIS-MOORE... FRIEND TO TRAVEL AGENTS
Well, I've already had to change my ticket because Colton Harris-Moore is, once again, apparently on the move.
I can't say where just yet, but there's been another boosted boat, this one taken from Marsh Harbour. As of right now, I'm headed to another island that fortunately also has some old friends living on it. Colt better be careful on this island who's stuff he messes with, though... one guy I know is a former Navy SEAL who won't appreciate anyone borrowing his boat. On the other hand, a good friend of mine who owns a restaurant there says she admires Colt's moxy and that she'll give him a sandwich if he stops by.
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I can't say where just yet, but there's been another boosted boat, this one taken from Marsh Harbour. As of right now, I'm headed to another island that fortunately also has some old friends living on it. Colt better be careful on this island who's stuff he messes with, though... one guy I know is a former Navy SEAL who won't appreciate anyone borrowing his boat. On the other hand, a good friend of mine who owns a restaurant there says she admires Colt's moxy and that she'll give him a sandwich if he stops by.
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AND NOW THE SERIOUS SIDE...
If Caught, Colton Harris-Moore Better Hope for Quick Extradition Back Home
Yes, Colt now faces U.S. Federal charges. The “We don’t care about this kid, who’s simply a local problem” FBI recently filed papers showing they they do — and have — cared about someone who's been boosting small airplanes and flying them around America. Now, if he’s caught, Colt will have at least one, and maybe eight or more, Federal charges against him (anything stolen and taken between states is a Federal crime, including cars, boats, and planes. The DNA and fingerprint evidence is now coming in in bunches, and supposedly ties Colton Harris-Moore to at least a couple of each. So... this could mean quite a bit more prison time.
BUT… if Colt thought it was a good idea to head out of U.S. jurisdiction in order to escape his warrants in the U.S. justice system… nope. As I mentioned before, there is an extradition treaty between us and the Bahamas that’s been in effect since 1994. No one will confirm or deny to me yet whether there is an agreement to bundle Colt back here right away if he’s caught. We work closely with the Bahamas govt on many matters, and even station FBI agents full-time at our embassy in Nassau because our law enforcement works with the Bahamians on issues such as drug smuggling. Colt has, allegedly, already committed a number of crimes on Great Abaco (as many as seven), including home burglaries and a break-in at Curly Tails where he’s seen on security cameras. It would not be unusual, though, for him still to be quickly repatriated to face the US charges.
HOWEVER, if he gets to the threshold where Bahamian authorities feel they need to tell the U.S. that they’d like the first crack at him — say if the worst case happens and a Bahamian gets hurt during a chase or confrontation — then Colt’s in for a rude awakening.
There is only one prison in the Bahamas, the notorious Fox Hill, which brings an immediate shudder to any Bahamian who mentions it. The most recent reports from the U.S. State Department (State 1 and State 2 ) paint a picture of an overcrowded, sweaty, hell, with the max security block crammed with twice as many prisoners as it was designed to hold. (Bahamian sources claim it is even higher). Men being held for trial (that is those still considered innocent) are routinely put in cells with convicted criminals. All convicted prisoners are initially sent to the max unit as a means of “breaking them in” to prison life.
Quoting: “Male prisoners were crowded into poorly ventilated cells that generally lacked regular running water, toilets [read: the only bathrooms are communal buckets]. Most prisoners lacked beds. Many of them slept on concrete floors and were locked in small cells 23 hours per day. Maximum-security inmates were allowed outside for exercise 4 days a week for 1 hour per day. Prison officials estimated that approximately 8 percent of the prison population was infected with the HIV virus and one-third suffered from tuberculosis. Amnesty International (AI) stated in a 2003 report that the HIV infection rate was closer to 20 percent.” [Bahamian activists put those disease rates even higher].
So... once again, for all those out there following your story, Colt, from the "fans," to those folks who think you're just a crook who needs to be caught but they still have the humanity not to wish you harm, on their behalf, I'd strongly suggest not escalating this to the point where the Bahamians feel compelled to keep you for awhile.
As wonderful and friendly and welcoming as the Bahamian people are, their prison is not.
.
Yes, Colt now faces U.S. Federal charges. The “We don’t care about this kid, who’s simply a local problem” FBI recently filed papers showing they they do — and have — cared about someone who's been boosting small airplanes and flying them around America. Now, if he’s caught, Colt will have at least one, and maybe eight or more, Federal charges against him (anything stolen and taken between states is a Federal crime, including cars, boats, and planes. The DNA and fingerprint evidence is now coming in in bunches, and supposedly ties Colton Harris-Moore to at least a couple of each. So... this could mean quite a bit more prison time.
BUT… if Colt thought it was a good idea to head out of U.S. jurisdiction in order to escape his warrants in the U.S. justice system… nope. As I mentioned before, there is an extradition treaty between us and the Bahamas that’s been in effect since 1994. No one will confirm or deny to me yet whether there is an agreement to bundle Colt back here right away if he’s caught. We work closely with the Bahamas govt on many matters, and even station FBI agents full-time at our embassy in Nassau because our law enforcement works with the Bahamians on issues such as drug smuggling. Colt has, allegedly, already committed a number of crimes on Great Abaco (as many as seven), including home burglaries and a break-in at Curly Tails where he’s seen on security cameras. It would not be unusual, though, for him still to be quickly repatriated to face the US charges.
HOWEVER, if he gets to the threshold where Bahamian authorities feel they need to tell the U.S. that they’d like the first crack at him — say if the worst case happens and a Bahamian gets hurt during a chase or confrontation — then Colt’s in for a rude awakening.
There is only one prison in the Bahamas, the notorious Fox Hill, which brings an immediate shudder to any Bahamian who mentions it. The most recent reports from the U.S. State Department (State 1 and State 2 ) paint a picture of an overcrowded, sweaty, hell, with the max security block crammed with twice as many prisoners as it was designed to hold. (Bahamian sources claim it is even higher). Men being held for trial (that is those still considered innocent) are routinely put in cells with convicted criminals. All convicted prisoners are initially sent to the max unit as a means of “breaking them in” to prison life.
Quoting: “Male prisoners were crowded into poorly ventilated cells that generally lacked regular running water, toilets [read: the only bathrooms are communal buckets]. Most prisoners lacked beds. Many of them slept on concrete floors and were locked in small cells 23 hours per day. Maximum-security inmates were allowed outside for exercise 4 days a week for 1 hour per day. Prison officials estimated that approximately 8 percent of the prison population was infected with the HIV virus and one-third suffered from tuberculosis. Amnesty International (AI) stated in a 2003 report that the HIV infection rate was closer to 20 percent.” [Bahamian activists put those disease rates even higher].
So... once again, for all those out there following your story, Colt, from the "fans," to those folks who think you're just a crook who needs to be caught but they still have the humanity not to wish you harm, on their behalf, I'd strongly suggest not escalating this to the point where the Bahamians feel compelled to keep you for awhile.
As wonderful and friendly and welcoming as the Bahamian people are, their prison is not.
.
BAHAMA BOOMERANGING
Colton Harris-Moore: I’ll See You at Nippers
My first foreign trip, back when I was 18, was a flight to the Bahamas via an ancient DC-3 (its door fell open just as we were taking off from Ft. Lauderdale). Since then, I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve been back to the Bahamas. I’ve crossed the Gulf Stream from Florida on boats of all sizes dozens of times. And done scores more trips on puddle jumper planes buzzing over to just about every coral cay worth landing on. I've loved the Bahamas, especially the Out Islands, ever since that first trip. And, apparently, so does 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore. So, now’s a good time for me to head back yet again.
The latest word from friends on Great Abaco is that the security tape of Colt shows he did, indeed, finish shaving his head. He’d been going for a Mr. Clean look a couple weeks ago but was interrupted by a Yankton, South Dakota, family who came home at 3 a.m. and surprised Colt just after he’d finished showering in their basement bathroom and had started to shave his head. Colt dropped the razor, ran upstairs, surprised the hell out of the family, and when the dad chased a naked Colt back into the basement, Colt aimed a red laser at him and said he had a gun. The guy wisely backed away and got his family out of the house. Colt grabbed his wet clothes out of the washing machine and bolted out a window.
And Colt, we really hope that wasn’t a handgun with a laser sight... Remember: Do anything with a gun involved and forget about it.
Anyway, perhaps knowing he was heading for warmer climes, Colt finally did crop his hair before flying a Cessna 400 to near its maximum range, leaving the plane in three feet of water near Sandy Point, Great Abaco. Which has excellent bonefishing, by the way.
If Colt did as much planning and research as I think he always does, he probably knew he was getting there during the big regatta -- party crazy time for the Abacos, which is boater crazy central. The Abaco Regatta is a bunch of salty people on a lot of boats racing every day to get to be the first ones at the next bar (Those aren’t the official rules, but in practice… oh yeah… And it’s wonderful fun). Lots of cool boats, lots of great people, lots of wild parties.
Last night was the big regatta party in Marsh Harbour, the little town where Colt may be hiding out now if he hasn't made it up to Treasure Cay. He’s the talk of the island, so he probably didn’t attend the awards ceremony. A tall, sunburned 19-year-old wouldn’t have stuck out so much with so many visitors around, but one with a shaved head? Yeah.
I hope Colt remembered to bring a hat, along with suntan lotion and some good shades — polarized are best for the glare off the water. The July sun can be brutal in the Bahamas, but the water is usually flat calm and the snorkeling and diving superlative. I’m definitely packing my mask and fins.
Outside of Regatta week and a few holidays, things are very laid-back in the Abacos… except on Sundays, when everyone who can catch a ferry, bum a boat or paddle a kayak heads across the Sea of Abaco to Nippers Bar on Great Guana Cay. I plan on getting to the Abacos in time for that weekly pig roast/blowout. Yes, I’m going there to work, but I can always start my reporting on Monday… as we say in the islands, “Soon come,” as in “I’ll get to it… someday.”
So Colt, if you’re there to really enjoy the Abacos: Nippers on Sunday. I know you don’t drink much, but the music is great, there’s an amazing beach right out front with warm, clear water, and the people watching is the best (2,500 people there last Sunday because of the regatta crowds). We'll all be barefoot, so you should feel right at home.
If you don’t make it over, do me a favor and don’t start any trouble on Sunday… we’ll all be doing what the Out Islands were made for: relaxing, soaking up the sun and sipping some rum.
.
My first foreign trip, back when I was 18, was a flight to the Bahamas via an ancient DC-3 (its door fell open just as we were taking off from Ft. Lauderdale). Since then, I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve been back to the Bahamas. I’ve crossed the Gulf Stream from Florida on boats of all sizes dozens of times. And done scores more trips on puddle jumper planes buzzing over to just about every coral cay worth landing on. I've loved the Bahamas, especially the Out Islands, ever since that first trip. And, apparently, so does 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore. So, now’s a good time for me to head back yet again.
The latest word from friends on Great Abaco is that the security tape of Colt shows he did, indeed, finish shaving his head. He’d been going for a Mr. Clean look a couple weeks ago but was interrupted by a Yankton, South Dakota, family who came home at 3 a.m. and surprised Colt just after he’d finished showering in their basement bathroom and had started to shave his head. Colt dropped the razor, ran upstairs, surprised the hell out of the family, and when the dad chased a naked Colt back into the basement, Colt aimed a red laser at him and said he had a gun. The guy wisely backed away and got his family out of the house. Colt grabbed his wet clothes out of the washing machine and bolted out a window.
And Colt, we really hope that wasn’t a handgun with a laser sight... Remember: Do anything with a gun involved and forget about it.
Anyway, perhaps knowing he was heading for warmer climes, Colt finally did crop his hair before flying a Cessna 400 to near its maximum range, leaving the plane in three feet of water near Sandy Point, Great Abaco. Which has excellent bonefishing, by the way.
If Colt did as much planning and research as I think he always does, he probably knew he was getting there during the big regatta -- party crazy time for the Abacos, which is boater crazy central. The Abaco Regatta is a bunch of salty people on a lot of boats racing every day to get to be the first ones at the next bar (Those aren’t the official rules, but in practice… oh yeah… And it’s wonderful fun). Lots of cool boats, lots of great people, lots of wild parties.
Last night was the big regatta party in Marsh Harbour, the little town where Colt may be hiding out now if he hasn't made it up to Treasure Cay. He’s the talk of the island, so he probably didn’t attend the awards ceremony. A tall, sunburned 19-year-old wouldn’t have stuck out so much with so many visitors around, but one with a shaved head? Yeah.
I hope Colt remembered to bring a hat, along with suntan lotion and some good shades — polarized are best for the glare off the water. The July sun can be brutal in the Bahamas, but the water is usually flat calm and the snorkeling and diving superlative. I’m definitely packing my mask and fins.
Outside of Regatta week and a few holidays, things are very laid-back in the Abacos… except on Sundays, when everyone who can catch a ferry, bum a boat or paddle a kayak heads across the Sea of Abaco to Nippers Bar on Great Guana Cay. I plan on getting to the Abacos in time for that weekly pig roast/blowout. Yes, I’m going there to work, but I can always start my reporting on Monday… as we say in the islands, “Soon come,” as in “I’ll get to it… someday.”
So Colt, if you’re there to really enjoy the Abacos: Nippers on Sunday. I know you don’t drink much, but the music is great, there’s an amazing beach right out front with warm, clear water, and the people watching is the best (2,500 people there last Sunday because of the regatta crowds). We'll all be barefoot, so you should feel right at home.
If you don’t make it over, do me a favor and don’t start any trouble on Sunday… we’ll all be doing what the Out Islands were made for: relaxing, soaking up the sun and sipping some rum.
.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
WHO YA GONNA CALL?
.
Colton Harris-Moore May Be the Only Non-Rum-Drinker in the Bahamas Today
So who do you call when you need information about something in the Bahamas but it’s after midnight local time? Well, last night I called an old drinking buddy who owns one of the world’s best beach bars in the Abacos, which are Out Islands in the northern Bahamas (I’ll name his bar once the rest of the media have the story… no sense in having him bothered all day with phone calls; he’s busy handling the music mix). I’d gotten wind that the stolen plane — which the FBI now says is tied to Colton Harris-Moore — splashed down off Great Abaco, and nothing happens in the Abacos without Johnny knowing about it. I called the bar and the party was still going full blast, but Johnny got on the horn and told me what he knew.
So, here’s what we have so far: The Cessna 400 did a controlled crash, a water landing in three feet of water off Sandy Point, which is at the southern tip of Great Abaco. The Abacos are an archipelago within the larger Bahamas archipelago, with a big-ass island called Great Abaco and a long string of barrier islands to its east that face the Atlantic atop an amazing reef. In the pantheon of the world’s best boating areas (at least in this hemisphere), the Abacos ranks right up there along with the British Virgin Islands, the Grenadines and the San Juan Islands. Colt’s now hit two of the four.
I’ve been to the Abacos more than 20 times. Great bonefishing and diving, and it’s where I caught my biggest blue marlin to date (Blood, Sweat and Beers). I've got other Bahamas stories on my bfriel.com website and you can also look up the Abacos on the official Out Islands website (myoutislands.com), where I did most of the photography and a lot of the text.
Colt made it out of the plane and waded ashore, then stole a car and travelled north to the main town of Marsh Harbour. Marsh is like a miniature Florida town in that on summer weekends it’s got as many Floridians as Bahamians. There are loads of expats, hundreds of vacation homes, a few resorts and probably five times as many boats as cars. Small ferry boats run from Marsh across the Sea of Abaco out to the barrier islands like Elbow Cay, Guana Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Man-o-War.
Last night, someone broke into at least two places in Marsh Harbour, the Fedex office and a restaurant called Curly Tails (great harbor view, and I highly recommend the conch fritters, crusted grouper and mahi mahi). Apparently they have video showing someone who looks a lot like Colt with a shaved head breaking into Curly Tails.
There isn’t much police presence in the Abacos, but The Royal Bahamian Police Force is sending reinforcements up from New Providence.
.
Colton Harris-Moore May Be the Only Non-Rum-Drinker in the Bahamas Today
So who do you call when you need information about something in the Bahamas but it’s after midnight local time? Well, last night I called an old drinking buddy who owns one of the world’s best beach bars in the Abacos, which are Out Islands in the northern Bahamas (I’ll name his bar once the rest of the media have the story… no sense in having him bothered all day with phone calls; he’s busy handling the music mix). I’d gotten wind that the stolen plane — which the FBI now says is tied to Colton Harris-Moore — splashed down off Great Abaco, and nothing happens in the Abacos without Johnny knowing about it. I called the bar and the party was still going full blast, but Johnny got on the horn and told me what he knew.
So, here’s what we have so far: The Cessna 400 did a controlled crash, a water landing in three feet of water off Sandy Point, which is at the southern tip of Great Abaco. The Abacos are an archipelago within the larger Bahamas archipelago, with a big-ass island called Great Abaco and a long string of barrier islands to its east that face the Atlantic atop an amazing reef. In the pantheon of the world’s best boating areas (at least in this hemisphere), the Abacos ranks right up there along with the British Virgin Islands, the Grenadines and the San Juan Islands. Colt’s now hit two of the four.
I’ve been to the Abacos more than 20 times. Great bonefishing and diving, and it’s where I caught my biggest blue marlin to date (Blood, Sweat and Beers). I've got other Bahamas stories on my bfriel.com website and you can also look up the Abacos on the official Out Islands website (myoutislands.com), where I did most of the photography and a lot of the text.
Colt made it out of the plane and waded ashore, then stole a car and travelled north to the main town of Marsh Harbour. Marsh is like a miniature Florida town in that on summer weekends it’s got as many Floridians as Bahamians. There are loads of expats, hundreds of vacation homes, a few resorts and probably five times as many boats as cars. Small ferry boats run from Marsh across the Sea of Abaco out to the barrier islands like Elbow Cay, Guana Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Man-o-War.
Last night, someone broke into at least two places in Marsh Harbour, the Fedex office and a restaurant called Curly Tails (great harbor view, and I highly recommend the conch fritters, crusted grouper and mahi mahi). Apparently they have video showing someone who looks a lot like Colt with a shaved head breaking into Curly Tails.
There isn’t much police presence in the Abacos, but The Royal Bahamian Police Force is sending reinforcements up from New Providence.
.
READER QUESTION ON CUBA...
.
In some ways, yes, Cuba would be a better spot. It's a huge island with lots of room to roam. It's also much more lush and fertile than the coral islands of the Bahamas, so it's much easier to find food. You could easily live off mangoes and bananas supplemented with some fresh-caught fish along with swiped eggs since many people there raise chickens.
If a fugitive with a similar m.o. wanted to go unnoticed, though, and didn't want to live in the forests, he’d have a tough time because there aren’t the selection of vacant vacation homes in Cuba that you find in the Bahamas or almost any other Caribbean destination.
Cuba has maintained draconian real estate laws since la revolution in 1959. That applies to locals as well as foreigners. Only now are they so strapped for cash that they’re about to allow foreigners to develop golf course communities that will eventually include lots of large, opulent vacation villas. They won’t be ready for years, though.
Right now, any foreigner acting furtively in Cuba would very quickly be picked up. A fat bank account might allow you to make a deal and stay there (a la Robert Vesco during a different part of his run), but I don’t think Colt has that kind of baksheesh to spread around.
All of that is moot, though, if any fugitive tried to make it to Cuba in an airplane. While there have been five small private planes stolen and flown around with impunity here in the States during all this, Cuba keeps an extremely close watch on its airspace and has actually shot down private planes that entered without permission.
By boat? Maybe… the Cuban navy is just as serious about smuggling, though, and would likely intercept a boat.
But there are some hints that Colt’s been studying a foreign language, maybe Spanish… so anything’s possible.
Again, there is no evidence that I know that says this is Colton Harris-Moore who stole the plane from Indiana and splash landed it in the Bahamas… these are just all “what ifs” at this point.
.
In some ways, yes, Cuba would be a better spot. It's a huge island with lots of room to roam. It's also much more lush and fertile than the coral islands of the Bahamas, so it's much easier to find food. You could easily live off mangoes and bananas supplemented with some fresh-caught fish along with swiped eggs since many people there raise chickens.
If a fugitive with a similar m.o. wanted to go unnoticed, though, and didn't want to live in the forests, he’d have a tough time because there aren’t the selection of vacant vacation homes in Cuba that you find in the Bahamas or almost any other Caribbean destination.
Cuba has maintained draconian real estate laws since la revolution in 1959. That applies to locals as well as foreigners. Only now are they so strapped for cash that they’re about to allow foreigners to develop golf course communities that will eventually include lots of large, opulent vacation villas. They won’t be ready for years, though.
Right now, any foreigner acting furtively in Cuba would very quickly be picked up. A fat bank account might allow you to make a deal and stay there (a la Robert Vesco during a different part of his run), but I don’t think Colt has that kind of baksheesh to spread around.
All of that is moot, though, if any fugitive tried to make it to Cuba in an airplane. While there have been five small private planes stolen and flown around with impunity here in the States during all this, Cuba keeps an extremely close watch on its airspace and has actually shot down private planes that entered without permission.
By boat? Maybe… the Cuban navy is just as serious about smuggling, though, and would likely intercept a boat.
But there are some hints that Colt’s been studying a foreign language, maybe Spanish… so anything’s possible.
Again, there is no evidence that I know that says this is Colton Harris-Moore who stole the plane from Indiana and splash landed it in the Bahamas… these are just all “what ifs” at this point.
.
IS IT BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS?
.
Colton Harris-Moore Suspected of Going Sub-Tropical
Okay, I know I said I wasn’t going to post much day-to-day stuff on Colton right now, especially when it’s speculative in nature, but this is just getting too interesting. The news that he’s a suspect in another theft of a private plane — this one flown from Indiana to the Bahamas — is remarkable... so I'll remark.
I know the Bahamas extremely well from travelling there often over the past 30 years. I’ve done something like 50 magazine articles on the country, and did a photo book called Underwater Bahamas. I have a lot of friends there, and hearing that Colt may now be visiting had me wondering if he’d hacked into my address book, or at least been reading my Bahamas stories extolling all the things he likes: boating, snorkeling, fishing, island-hopping, magnificent vacation homes, and lots of small airports.
Again, as far as I know at this point there is no direct evidence that this is Colt. Playing connect the dots with stolen vehicles, though, does provide some circumstantial support to the theory it’s him. If it is, why did he go to the Bahamas and what chance does he have of staying free in an archipelago made up of some 700 mostly small islands where the locals have all known each other for generations?
Most people only know the Bahamas from a cruise stop at Nassau or Freeport. The real Bahamas, though are the Out Islands — also known as the Family Islands — slow-paced, sandy and sunny cays where life revolves around the water. Details are coming in sluggishly so far, but from the Bahamian police I spoke to last night, it sounds like whoever splashed down in this plane (a high-performance Cessna 400 flown 1,200 miles), made it to the Out Islands. I’ll report exactly where as soon as I can confirm it.
The Bahamas have a long history of acting as refuge for fascinating characters such as the pirate Blackbeard, cocaine kingpin Carlos Lehder, fugitive financier Robert Vesco, and uber-rich recluse Howard Hughes. The capital island, New Providence, was even declared the “Pirate Republic” for a short, swashbuckling period of the 18th Century.
So is Colt the latest character to attempt to hide away in the beautiful Bahamian cays? Stay tuned. To answer the first question on many minds, though: Yes, the U.S. has an extradition treaty with the Bahamas.
.
Colton Harris-Moore Suspected of Going Sub-Tropical
Okay, I know I said I wasn’t going to post much day-to-day stuff on Colton right now, especially when it’s speculative in nature, but this is just getting too interesting. The news that he’s a suspect in another theft of a private plane — this one flown from Indiana to the Bahamas — is remarkable... so I'll remark.
I know the Bahamas extremely well from travelling there often over the past 30 years. I’ve done something like 50 magazine articles on the country, and did a photo book called Underwater Bahamas. I have a lot of friends there, and hearing that Colt may now be visiting had me wondering if he’d hacked into my address book, or at least been reading my Bahamas stories extolling all the things he likes: boating, snorkeling, fishing, island-hopping, magnificent vacation homes, and lots of small airports.
Again, as far as I know at this point there is no direct evidence that this is Colt. Playing connect the dots with stolen vehicles, though, does provide some circumstantial support to the theory it’s him. If it is, why did he go to the Bahamas and what chance does he have of staying free in an archipelago made up of some 700 mostly small islands where the locals have all known each other for generations?
Most people only know the Bahamas from a cruise stop at Nassau or Freeport. The real Bahamas, though are the Out Islands — also known as the Family Islands — slow-paced, sandy and sunny cays where life revolves around the water. Details are coming in sluggishly so far, but from the Bahamian police I spoke to last night, it sounds like whoever splashed down in this plane (a high-performance Cessna 400 flown 1,200 miles), made it to the Out Islands. I’ll report exactly where as soon as I can confirm it.
The Bahamas have a long history of acting as refuge for fascinating characters such as the pirate Blackbeard, cocaine kingpin Carlos Lehder, fugitive financier Robert Vesco, and uber-rich recluse Howard Hughes. The capital island, New Providence, was even declared the “Pirate Republic” for a short, swashbuckling period of the 18th Century.
So is Colt the latest character to attempt to hide away in the beautiful Bahamian cays? Stay tuned. To answer the first question on many minds, though: Yes, the U.S. has an extradition treaty with the Bahamas.
.
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