Who would expect to see a 68-year-old man punch a 15-year-old at the end of a plane ride to Boise, Idaho? Not many people. And certainly none of the passengers on the flight.
Russell Miller let loose on a kid when he continued playing with his iPhone after flight attendants asked for all electronics to be turned off to land. Seemingly harmless, but not to stringent rule-sticklers. Asylum reported:
This infuriated Miller, who confronted the teenager. A scuffle ensued, and Miller punched the teenager in the arm so hard it left a black and blue mark. Miller was taken into police custody upon landing.
Needless to say he was arrested upon landing, charged with misdemeanor battery. Miller’s defense in the Idaho Citizen.
“I don’t want this thing blown out of proportion,” the 68-year-old Miller told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday. “I didn’t know this guy was a kid. I tapped him on his shoulder. He had been told (to turn off his cell phone). I guess he thought he could get away with something.”
“Maybe I overreacted. What’s done is done,” Miller continued. “I have no animosity towards this kid whatsoever. I just wanted him to abide by the rules.”
Too bad everyone else shut off their electronics and didn’t record it. Guess they didn’t want to test him.
Its called airplane mode. Id love it if he hit me. Jail time would be the least of his concerns.
The theory is that any electronic, cell phone or not, can mess with the plane’s navigational technology during take off and landing. Hence a mere Gameboy could maybe mess with it. Airplane mode would have made no difference in this situation.
The man was charged with “misdemeanor battery.” Whether he left significant welts or not is not at issue. Battery is any kind of touching which is offensive, defined by the local jurisdiction. You might think it’s stupid, but, surprisingly, punching someone in the arm against their will is illegal.
This is being totally blown out of proportion! Why is he in police custody? If this man has to go to court or get a fine that will be so wrong. This kid is an idiot, if your told to turn off your cell phone you turn it off, don’t be a selfish idiot. It’s for the safety of all the passengers that you do so. This kid just sounds spoiled to me. He doesn’t follow the rules, gets in trouble for it, then runs off to the police because he got in trouble… Stupid, stupid, stupid
As the story goes (via The Idaho Statesman), it began when the plane took OFF in Las Vegas. Las Vegas to Boise is an approximate 40 minute flight. Mr. Miller stated he was sitting across the aisle from the 15 year-old, thus it’s very unlikely he actually SLUGGED or even punched the 15 year-old. As for the ‘black & blue mark.’ Black & blue marks rarely surface immediately or within an hour’s time frame unless severe trauma such as from an MVA or such.