A Pennsylvania man detained in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) for having ammunition in his luggage arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night.
Bryan Hagerich, a 39-year-old husband, father of two and former professional baseball player, has been arrested on the island since February for having stray ammunition hidden in his luggage. one of five Americans detained, On the island, this crime carries a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.
Other Americans detained include Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia Asia; Michael Lee Evans, 72, Texas.
“It’s amazing to look back at the last 12 years, in just 12 hours,” Hargrich told reporters after arriving in Pittsburgh on Friday night. “My biggest concern is coaching kids for tomorrow’s baseball game. It gave me a sigh of relief.”
Pennsylvania father detained in Turks and Caicos for carrying ammunition in luggage returns home after paying fine
Bryan Hagerich is greeted by his family as he returns to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Matthew Simmons, Fox News Digital)
Hargrich said his detention was “the most difficult moment of my life” being separated from his family.
“As a father, as a breadwinner, and not being that role in my family’s life, it’s a hard pill to swallow,” he said.
He said the conditions of his detention were “harsh” and were the “darkest days” of his life. While he said he was grateful to be home, he stressed that there were other Americans still detained on the island who he said “will be coming home soon.”
On Friday morning, a Turks and Caicos Islands judge sentenced Hagridge to 52 months’ probation after he admitted possessing ammunition on the island. He was also ordered to pay a $6,500 fine.
Hargrich told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he and his attorneys “made a very, very strong argument” for his defense after he pleaded guilty.
Some lawmakers applauded the move to free Hagrich from detention on the island, allowing him to return to his family in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation visited TCI on Monday to urge government leaders to release Americans detained for having stray ammunition hidden in their luggage.
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Bryan Hagerich was released to the United States on probation Friday after being detained in the Turks and Caicos Islands over the presence of loose ammunition in his luggage. (Matthew Simmons, Fox News Digital)
“This is great news,” Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said in a statement. “Brian will be returning home to his family. It was an honor to meet Brian and the other Americans detained at TCI this week.”
“When we met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made it clear they wanted to resolve this issue,” Fetterman continued. “They realized that Bryan and the other detained Americans were not arms smugglers – they were just people who made mistakes. I’m grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home. I’m also grateful to the U.S. Department of State Has been a great partner in bringing Brian home.
Fetterman also expressed his hope that TCI can expedite the cases of other detained Americans so that they can be released and returned to their families as soon as possible.
Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania said that while he was “overjoyed” to see Hagrich return to Pennsylvania and reunited with his wife and children, “this horrific situation should not have happened to him.” Or four other Americans who are still awaiting sentencing.
“As the Turks and Caicos government works hard to deal with future cases, the British territory must ensure the safety and well-being of American visitors. I will not rest until Americans can once again set foot on their islands without jeopardizing their livelihoods.” ,” the congressional representative said.
Florida woman becomes fifth American detained in Turks and Caicos for carrying ammunition
Brian Hargrich arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night after being detained in Turks and Caicos. (Matthew Simmons, Fox News Digital)
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Hargridge said Friday night that he was “eternally grateful” to lawmakers for their efforts to secure his release, including a delegation that visited the islands.
“Never in a thousand years did I expect to receive such support,” Hagrich said.
The cases of the five Americans are slightly different, but all five were arrested after security found ammunition in their luggage on their way home.
Hagrich hid ammunition from previous hunting trips in a compartment of a large suitcase that his family packed with items on a family vacation.
Watson also had some stray ammunition hidden in the lining of his carry-on, also left over from the hunting trip. Greer had recently purchased a gun for protection, and the lining of her bag had stray bullets.
Weinrich similarly said he had no intention of bringing the bullets to the island and was unaware he had two bullets in his travel backpack until security personnel discovered them.
Fox News’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
