<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One warm September afternoon, Jake Salsa, quarterback of the high school football team, walked with his teammates to the student car lot after a bruising two-hour practice in the blazing sun. They laughed and joked about the things all high school boys do, like who the hottest girls were, who had the fastest cars, and which sports teams were the best, not necessarily in that order.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wailing sirens and screeching tires shredded the air as police cars skidded to a stop at the curb, red and blue lights flashing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several uniformed police officers jumped out and approached the group of startled teenagers, guns drawn, commands sharp. \u201cFreeze!\u201d they shouted. \u201cHands in the air!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boys looked at each other as their hands shot skyward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhich one of you is Jake Salsa?\u201d asked an officer wielding a large black handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d Jake stammered. \u201cHow can I help you, officer…\u201d\u2014he looked at his nametag\u2014\u201cOfficer Taggert?\u201d He forced a smile. \u201cCan I get you tickets for our home game next Friday?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His friends, their hands still high in the air, snickered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Taggert frowned. \u201cThis is no joke, young man. This is deadly serious. I need to search your backpack. Please lay it on the ground and step back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey wait, wait, what\u2019s this all about, sir? This bag is my personal property. You can\u2019t just search it without a warrant.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have probable cause to search. Please do as I ask,\u201d said the officer. \u201cI\u2019ll explain it shortly.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He motioned to Jake\u2019s companions nearby. “Okay, boys, you can lower your hands. You are free to go.\u201d They walked a few yards away and stopped to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jake dropped his backpack onto the pavement and stepped away. A second officer\u2014\u201cBrown,\u201d according to his nametag\u2014stepped forward and patted him down. Brown removed the phone and car keys from his pockets, then pulled his arms behind his back and handcuffed him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You’re cuffing me? I didn’t do anything wrong.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry to do this, but it\u2019s only while we search your backpack.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Taggert pulled on latex gloves, unzipped the backpack and removed the contents: a laptop and charger, a couple of textbooks, a water bottle, a pack of gum, and a crumpled Doritos bag with a few chips inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned the Doritos bag over in his hands and inspected it closely, his brow furrowed. He shook his head and motioned the other officers over to look. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d he asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They huddled as Jake waited anxiously a few yards away, his wrists pinched under the cuffs. After a few moments of talk and nervous laughter, a couple of officers got in their cars and drove away, leaving Taggert, Brown, and a female officer with the nametag Taylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Brown released the handcuffs from Jake\u2019s wrists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat was all that?\u201d Jake demanded as he rubbed his numb wrists to regain feeling. \u201cI\u2019ve never been arrested before, officer. Why did you cuff me?” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Taggert cleared his throat and managed a thin smile. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, son, but we had to follow protocol. It’s for your safety as well as ours.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jake scowled. “Well I didn’t feel very safe.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Again, I’m sorry,” the officer replied. “Let me tell you what happened. You’re not going to believe it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTry me,\u201d snapped Jake. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you arrested me for nothing. Does this have to do with those stupid new AI cameras that are always spying on us?”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps,” said Taggert.\u00a0 “The school\u2019s security system identified an item in your backpack as a gun, and we were dispatched to check it out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure,\u201d said Jake, “but why did you have to come in all cowboy, yelling and pointing your guns at us like we\u2019re terrorists? How can you guys mistake something in my backpack for a gun?”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It was a false positive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yeah, no kidding.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know you’re upset. Apparently, the camera identified the Doritos bag as a gun shape and triggered the alarm.” Taggert rolled his eyes. \u201cSo much for smart cameras.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What are you going to do about it?” asked Jake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’ll require that the school deactivate it until it’s fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jake ran his fingers absently through his hair. \u201cMan, oh man, this is crazy. It happened so fast. I can\u2019t believe you almost shot me for having a bag of tortilla chips.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jake let out a deep sigh and locked eyes with Taggert. “You know, things happen. I get it.” He extended his hand to Taggert. “No hard feelings, you\u2019re just doing your job.\u201d Officer Taggert nodded and grasped his hand in a firm shake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd thanks for not shooting me before you searched my bag. I prefer non-lethal, lead-free air conditioning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Taggert chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m glad you can find some humor in this. I know it was stressful.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He handed Jake a card. “Call me if you have questions. You’re free to go.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer Taggert turned to leave with officers Brown and Taylor, then looked back at Jake and winked. \u201cOh, and watch out for those Doritos bags,\u201d he deadpanned. \u201cI hear they can be dangerous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill do.\u201d Jake laughed and gave a smart salute as the officers got into their cars and drove away.\u00a0\u00a0He joined his sidelined teammates, who whooped and high-fived and slapped him on the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And for the rest of the school year, all of his classmates teased him about being the most notorious criminal in town\u2014the \u201cDorito Bandito.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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