Somewhere along the way, being outrageous to make a point crosses the line into just being plain stupid — which carries consequences to it.
Thomas J. Connolly, of Scarborough, a prominent defense attorney and 1998 Democratic candidate for governor was charged with criminal threatening this morning after an incident beside Interstate 295.
South Portland police were notified around 9 a.m. that a man wearing a rubber Osama bin Laden mask was standing on top of a berm along the highway carrying a sign that said “I Love Tabor,” and waving what appeared to be an assault rifle.
Four South Portland officers and two state troopers converged on the man. They drew their guns when he did not respond to their demand that he drop his weapon.
Police said instead he walked toward them dropping plastic hand grenades. His costume included fake dynamite and bandoliers, police said.
He eventually did drop the rifle, which turned out to be a toy and was arrested, at which time the man was identified as Connolly. He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail.
Um … dude is lucky he didn’t get shot.
Connolly met with reporters briefly after posting bail to secure his release. Criminal threatening is a misdemeanor.
“There was a First Amendment this morning when I woke up. I don’t know how it evaporated with the dawn,” he said.
I think it went somewhere with your brain.
I mean, jeez, standing by the highway dressed up like OBL, festooned with fake dynamite and waving a fake assault rifle? Again, dude is lucky he didn’t get shot.
If he wants to show how the first amendment is eroding, maybe he should try protesting the president. That way he doesn’t look like an a**hole and he plainly gets his message across. What a moron!