Possible Secret Service involvement was supported by a 19 year-old
college student known as the "Lithium Bandit," who told
Newsbytes, "I got to the mall about 6:15 and saw the group being detained
by approximately 5 Arlington County police and 5 security guards. When I
walked over to see what was going on, a security guard asked me for an ID
and I refused to show it, saying that I was about to leave. The guard
said that I couldn't leave and told me that I had to see a police
officer. When I did, the officer demanded ID and, when I once again
refused, he informed me that I could be detained for up to 10 hours
for refusing to produce identification. I gave in and produced my
school ID which the police gave to the security people who copied
down my name and social security number."
Lithium Bandit continued, "When I asked the police what was behind this
action, I was told that they couldn't answer but that 'the Secret
Service is involved and we are within our rights doing this."
The boy says he and others later went to the Arlington police station
to get more information and were told only that there was a report
of the use of a stolen credit card and two officers were sent to
investigate. "They later admitted that it was 5 [officers]. While I was
detained, I heard no mention of a credit card and there was no one
arrested."
