Stopped At LAX While Transporting Prisoner To Hawaii

There are no doubt qualifications you must meet to do private security and prisoner transport work... but an ability to think ahead is evidently not one of them.

The Mercury News reports a Riverside, CA security company called Court Services, Incorporated got a contract from Hawaii's Department of Public Safety to transport prisoners.

While bringing an unidentified, handcuffed inmate through Los Angeles International Airport last March, company president Eric Kindley allegedly gave his employee, Gary Garratt, a handgun which was not registered to either man, and ordered him to take it with him as he escorted the prisoner onto an ATA flight.

As most of our readers know, airport security and the Department of Homeland Security frown on such practices. Garratt was arrested... and was reportedly found to lack the required training to be allowed to carry the gun onboard, and did not possess a concealed carry permit. He also was not sworn in as a law officer.

Prosecutors say Garratt and Kindley were indicted last week on charges of conspiracy and attempting to carry a firearm on an aircraft. The two could face 20 years in jail.

The handcuffed inmate apparently made it back to his scheduled court appearance in Hawaii, accompanied by another Court Services employee who was not carrying a gun.

FMI: www.lawa.org