Virginia EMT arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammo allegedly found in luggage

A 30-year-old U.S. man was arrested successful Turks and Caicos past play aft ammunition was allegedly recovered successful his luggage, CBS News has learned, making him the latest of respective Americans successful caller months who recovered themselves successful a akin predicament successful nan British territory. 

Tyler Wenrich was taken into custody aft officials allegedly recovered 2 bullets successful his backpack April 20 arsenic he was astir to committee a cruise ship.

Possessing a weapon aliases ammunition is prohibited successful Turks and Caicos, but visitors were antecedently often capable to conscionable salary a fine. In February, however, a tribunal bid mandated that moreover visitors successful nan process of leaving nan state are taxable to situation time.

The Virginia EMT and begetter now faces nan imaginable of a mandatory minimum situation condemnation of up to 12 years.

"I consciousness like, arsenic a very honorable mistake, that 12 years is absurd," his wife, Jeriann Wenrich, told CBS News Friday. 

Wenrich says her hubby had been connected nan land for little than a time erstwhile nan apprehension occurred.

"My son's only 18 months old, and I conscionable don't want to him to turn up without a dad," Wenrich said.

There are now astatine slightest 4 American visitors facing nan anticipation of lengthy situation sentences for akin charges, including a 72-year-old man, Michael Lee Evans, who was arrested successful December and pled blameworthy to possession of 7 rounds of ammo. He appeared earlier nan tribunal connected Wednesday via a video convention link. Currently connected bail successful nan U.S. for aesculapian reasons, Evans has a sentencing proceeding successful June. A 5th person, Michael Grim of Indiana, served astir six months successful situation aft he pleaded blameworthy to mistakenly bringing ammo successful his checked luggage for a vacation. 

Ryan Watson, a 40-year-old begetter of 2 from Oklahoma, was released from a Turks and Caicos jail connected $15,000 enslaved Wednesday. Following a day picnic pinch his wife, he was arrested April 12 erstwhile airdrome information allegedly recovered 4 rounds of hunting ammo successful his carry-on container earlier this month. 

His wife, Valerie Watson, flew location to Oklahoma Tuesday aft learning she would not beryllium charged. However, arsenic portion of his enslaved agreement, her hubby must stay connected nan land and cheque successful each Tuesday and Thursday astatine nan Grace Bay Police Station while his lawsuit moves forward.

In an question and reply Friday from nan island, Ryan Watson told CBS News that he checked nan container earlier he packed it.

"I opened it up and benignant of springiness it a small shimmy, didn't spot anything, didn't perceive anything," he said.

TSA besides acknowledged that officers missed nan ammo erstwhile Watson's container was screened astatine nan checkpoint connected April 7 astatine Will Rogers World Airport successful Oklahoma City.

In a connection provided to CBS News Friday, a TSA spokesperson said that "four rounds of ammunition were not detected" successful Watson's container "during nan information screening."

The spokesperson said that "an oversight occurred that nan agency is addressing internally."

"It was my mistake," Ryan Watson said. "It was very innocent. And I conscionable believe that, compassion and consideration, because location was zero criminal intent."

In a connection Friday, nan Turks and Caicos authorities said that it "reserves nan correct to enforce its authorities and each visitors must travel its rule enforcement procedures."

Following nan CBS News study connected Ryan Watson earlier this week, nan State Department reissued a warning to American visitors walking to Turks and Caicos to "carefully cheque their luggage for stray ammunition aliases forgotten weapons."

In:
• Turks and Caicos
• Guns