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Oklahoma couple describes being detained in Turks and Caicos

Published

7 months ago

April 25, 2024

VALERIE WATSON AND HER HUSBAND, RYAN WENT TO TURKS AND CAICOS TO CELEBRATE A 40TH BIRTHDAY. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HOME ON FRIDAY, APRIL 12TH, BUT AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD BY NOW, FOUR BULLETS KEPT THAT FROM HAPPENING. EVERYTHING WAS IN THAT BAG. UM, FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE LEFT OUR HOUSE AND IT WENT THROUGH SECURITY THROUGH OKC, UM, IT NEVER GOT FLAGGED THROUGH TSA. THE EXCITEMENT COMING HOME TO SEE THEIR KIDS AFTER A VACATION IN TURKS AND CAICOS QUICKLY TURNED TO CHAOS WHEN SECURITY FLAGGED RYAN AND VALERIE WATSON’S CARRY ON BAG, THEY PULL OUT A LITTLE TINY, LITTLE TINY ZIPLOC BAG AND IT HAD SOMETHING GOLD IN IT. I COULDN’T TELL WHAT IT WAS, AND I LOOKED AT RYAN AND I ASKED, I SAID, WHAT ARE THOSE? AND HE WAS LIKE, I THINK THOSE ARE MY HUNTING LIKE DEER HUNTING BULLETS. WATSON SAYS THEY HAD NO IDEA THE BULLETS WERE THERE AND THEY WERE FROM A PREVIOUS HUNTING TRIP. IT’S A SERIOUS CRIME THERE. THE COUPLE WAS WAS DETAINED SINCE THEN, TWO DIFFERENT LOCALS, ONE WHO THEY MET ON THEIR TRIP, HAVE PUT UP PROPERTY AS SURETY BONDS SO THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO STAY BEHIND BARS. THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST SO WILLING TO HELP US IN THIS SITUATION IS SO HUMBLING, BECAUSE WE THEY’RE COMPLETE STRANGERS TO US AND THEY’RE TAKING A HUGE RISK. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE. UM, THIS WAS TRULY AN HONEST MISTAKE. UM, RYAN IS REALLY A RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER. HE REALLY IS. UM, WE HAVE A SAFE. EVERYTHING’S ALWAYS LOCKED UP. IT TRULY WAS AN OVERSIGHT. NOW, WHILE HE’S OUT ON BAIL, SHE SAYS HIS FUTURE IS UNCLEAR. AND HE COULD FACE 12 YEARS IN JAIL. IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT FOUR HUNTING GROUNDS CAN LAND RYAN IN PRISON FOR 12 YEARS. I CAN’T EVEN FATHOM THAT. THAT IS OUR REALITY. BUT THAT’S OUR REALITY AT THIS MOMENT. NOW, WILL ROGERS DIDN’T HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS INCIDENT. TSA DIDN’T RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT ABOUT HOW THAT AMMO WAS MISSED. NOW, RYAN’S NEXT COURT DATE IS IN TURKS AND CAICOS ON JUNE 7TH. COMING UP TONIGHT AT TEN. WE HAVE MORE FROM THAT EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW ABOUT HOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE NOW HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP THIS LOCA

‘We aren’t unhealthy individuals’: Oklahoma couple describes being detained in Turks and Caicos

Valerie and Ryan Watson’s Turks and Caicos trip became a nightmare after looking bullets had been unknowingly left of their bag

An Oklahoma man dealing with severe costs in Turks and Caicos walked out of jail on bond, however he nonetheless cannot come dwelling. | MORE | Nightmare trip for Oklahoma couple leaves husband behind bars Valerie Watson hugged her youngsters for the primary time in weeks on Tuesday, however her husband, Ryan, stays caught on the islands after a trip became a nightmare. Valerie stated she and Ryan went to Turks and Caicos for a fortieth birthday celebration, and so they had been supposed to return dwelling on Friday, April 12. However 4 bullets discovered of their baggage saved that from taking place. “The whole lot was in that bag from the second we left our home. It went by means of safety in OKC. It by no means bought flagged by means of TSA,” Valerie stated. The joy of coming dwelling to see their youngsters after the holiday rapidly turned to chaos when safety flagged the couple’s carry-on bag. “They pull out somewhat tiny Ziplock bag, and it had one thing gold in it. I couldn’t inform what it was,” Valerie stated. “I checked out Ryan and requested, I stated, ‘What are these?’ And he was like, ‘I believe these are my looking, deer looking, bullets.'”Valerie stated they’d no concept the bullets had been there, and so they had been left in there from a earlier looking journey. The state of affairs is a severe crime in Turks and Caicos, and the couple was detained. Since then, two totally different locals put up “surety bonds,” in order that they did not have to remain behind bars. One of many locals was their driver throughout the trip, and the opposite was a neighborhood restaurant proprietor whom they did not know.”The truth that these individuals are prepared to assist us on this state of affairs is so humbling as a result of they’re full strangers to us, and so they’re taking an enormous danger,” Valerie stated. “I simply need individuals to know that we aren’t unhealthy individuals. This was really an trustworthy mistake. Ryan can be a accountable gun proprietor. He actually is. We now have a protected. The whole lot is all the time locked up. It really was an oversight.” >> Obtain the KOCO 5 AppWhile Ryan is out on bail, his spouse stated his future is unclear, and he might face 12 years in jail. “It is onerous to think about that 4 looking rounds can land Ryan in jail for 12 years. I am unable to even fathom that that’s our actuality, however that is our actuality at this second,” Valerie stated. Will Rogers World Airport stated they haven’t any touch upon this. “TSA is conducting a overview at OKC, which was the originating airport. We’re conscious of an incident in Turks and Caicos involving a U.S. citizen and refer you to regulation enforcement authorities in Turks and Caicos for extra data,” TSA stated in an announcement. Ryan’s subsequent courtroom date is June 7. Prime Headlines Oklahoma mother reunites with children after nightmare trip leaves her husband behind bars TIMELINE: First spherical of extreme storms with hail danger strikes in on Wednesday ‘By no means anticipated this’: Yukon neighborhood shocked by household bloodbath Investigation continues after man shoots, kills spouse and three youngsters at Yukon dwelling: What we all know 104-year-old time capsule discovered and salvaged throughout a college demolition venture has been opened

An Oklahoma man dealing with severe costs in Turks and Caicos walked out of jail on bond, however he nonetheless cannot come dwelling.

| MORE | Nightmare trip for Oklahoma couple leaves husband behind bars

Valerie Watson hugged her youngsters for the primary time in weeks on Tuesday, however her husband, Ryan, stays caught on the islands after a trip became a nightmare. Valerie stated she and Ryan went to Turks and Caicos for a fortieth birthday celebration, and so they had been supposed to return dwelling on Friday, April 12.

However 4 bullets discovered of their baggage saved that from taking place.

“The whole lot was in that bag from the second we left our home. It went by means of safety in OKC. It by no means bought flagged by means of TSA,” Valerie stated.

The joy of coming dwelling to see their youngsters after the holiday rapidly turned to chaos when safety flagged the couple’s carry-on bag.

“They pull out somewhat tiny Ziplock bag, and it had one thing gold in it. I couldn’t inform what it was,” Valerie stated. “I checked out Ryan and requested, I stated, ‘What are these?’ And he was like, ‘I believe these are my looking, deer looking, bullets.'”

Valerie stated they’d no concept the bullets had been there, and so they had been left in there from a earlier looking journey.

The state of affairs is a severe crime in Turks and Caicos, and the couple was detained.

Since then, two totally different locals put up “surety bonds,” in order that they did not have to remain behind bars. One of many locals was their driver throughout the trip, and the opposite was a neighborhood restaurant proprietor whom they did not know.

“The truth that these individuals are prepared to assist us on this state of affairs is so humbling as a result of they’re full strangers to us, and so they’re taking an enormous danger,” Valerie stated. “I simply need individuals to know that we aren’t unhealthy individuals. This was really an trustworthy mistake. Ryan can be a accountable gun proprietor. He actually is. We now have a protected. The whole lot is all the time locked up. It really was an oversight.”

>> Obtain the KOCO 5 App

Whereas Ryan is out on bail, his spouse stated his future is unclear, and he might face 12 years in jail.

“It is onerous to think about that 4 looking rounds can land Ryan in jail for 12 years. I am unable to even fathom that that’s our actuality, however that is our actuality at this second,” Valerie stated.

Will Rogers World Airport stated they haven’t any touch upon this.

“TSA is conducting a overview at OKC, which was the originating airport. We’re conscious of an incident in Turks and Caicos involving a U.S. citizen and refer you to regulation enforcement authorities in Turks and Caicos for extra data,” TSA stated in an announcement.

Ryan’s subsequent courtroom date is June 7.

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