A Pennsylvania man arrived on the Pittsburgh airport Friday evening after he was launched from custody on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the place he had been detained for having ammunition in his baggage.
Bryan Hagerich — a 39-year-old husband, father of two and former skilled baseball participant — is one in every of 5 Individuals arrested and detained on the islands since February for having stray ammunition of their baggage, a criminal offense punishable as much as 12 years on the islands.
The opposite detained Individuals are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas.
“Its simply superb how, simply within the matter of 12 hours, 12 years to now,” Hagerich instructed reporters Friday evening after he landed in Pittsburgh. “My greatest concern is teaching my children’ baseball video games tomorrow, and that’s such a aid.”
Hagerich stated his detention was the “hardest time of my life” being separated from his household.
“As a father, as a supplier, and to not be that determine in my household’s life, it is a very robust capsule to swallow,” he stated.
He stated the circumstances of his detention have been “robust” and the “darkest days” of his life. And whereas he stated he’s grateful to be residence, he careworn that there are different Individuals nonetheless in detention on the islands who he stated “shall be residence quickly.”
A Turks and Caicos decide issued a suspended 52-month sentence Friday morning to Hagerich, who pleaded responsible to possessing ammunition on the islands. He was additionally ordered to pay a $6,500 fantastic.
Hagerich instructed Fox Information Digital on Thursday that he and his attorneys “made a really, very sturdy case” in his protection after he pleaded responsible.
A number of lawmakers applauded the transfer to launch Hagerich from custody on the islands, permitting him to return to his household in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation had visited TCI on Monday to induce authorities leaders to launch the Individuals detained for having stray ammunition of their baggage.
“That is nice information,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., stated in a press release. “Bryan is coming residence to his household. It was an honor to satisfy Bryan and the opposite detained Individuals in TCI this week.”
“Once we met with TCI officers a number of days in the past, they made clear they needed this case resolved,” Fetterman continued. “They acknowledged that Bryan and the opposite detained Individuals should not gunrunners — they’re simply individuals who made a mistake. I am grateful that the decide acknowledged that the precise factor to do was to ship Bryan residence. I am additionally grateful to the U.S. State Division which has been a vital associate in bringing Bryan residence.”
Fetterman additionally stated he’s hopeful that TCI expedites the opposite circumstances of detained Individuals to allow them to even be launched quickly and return to their households.
Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Man Reschenthaler stated whereas he’s “overjoyed” to see Hagerich is returning to Pennsylvania and reuniting along with his spouse and youngsters, “this terrifying scenario ought to have by no means occurred to him, or the 4 different Individuals nonetheless awaiting sentencing.”
“Because the Turks and Caicos authorities works to deal with future circumstances, the British territory should guarantee the security and wellbeing of U.S. vacationers. I gained’t relaxation till Individuals can as soon as once more set foot on their islands with out placing their livelihoods in danger,” the congressional consultant stated.
FLORIDA WOMAN BECOMES 5TH AMERICAN DETAINED IN TURKS AND CAICOS FOR CARRYING AMMO
Hagerich stated Friday evening he’s “eternally grateful” for lawmakers’ efforts advocating for his launch, together with the delegation that visited the islands.
“By no means in a thousand years did I count on that form of help,” Hagerich stated.
The circumstances of the 5 Individuals have slight variations, however all 5 have been arrested whereas touring residence after safety detected ammunition of their baggage.
Hagerich had stray ammunition from a earlier looking journey in one of many compartments of a big suitcase his household had loaded their belongings into for a household trip.
Watson had stray ammunition, additionally left over from a looking journey, within the lining of his carry-on bag. Grier had stray bullets within the lining of her bag after she lately bought a firearm for her personal safety.
Wenrich has equally stated he had no intention of bringing bullets onto the islands and had no concept he had two bullets in his journey backpack till safety discovered them.
Fox Information’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
