HELLUVA HOMECOMING T
hard in Raiatea for cyclone season and made plans to return to the States to renew our cruising kitty, see family and friends, and plan for our next season of cruising. As the wheels of our plane lifted off the runway in Tahiti, Judy and I looked at each other with an unspoken sadness. Our cruising season was over, but at least we were already making plans for our return. Our schedule was to fly through Honolulu, where my wife would remain for a time to visit family and friends, while I would continue on to Los Angeles and then to Georgia to visit my daughter and grandson. But it was in Honolulu that our trip through the 'magic kingdom' — and my personal freedom — came to an abrupt halt. Since Honolulu was our port of entry back into the United States, we were required to clear Customs and Immigration. We assumed this would be routine, but it turned into a shocking nightmare. I gave my passport to the Immigration agent and, after an unusually long time, was asked some odd questions about whether I had ever been to Florida. "Yes," I responded politely. "Why?" "I can't tell you that," said the agent. I was then instructed to report to a secondary Immigration station for further questioning. I was caught completely off ALL PHOTOS JUDY MEEKS
he authorities at the Honolulu Airport handcuffed me, put shackles around my ankles, and transported me to the jail in downtown Honolulu. I was put into a concrete cell with one small fluorescent fixture. Meanwhile, my wife,
Last 4th of July, Jim (left) and Judy had a crab fest in the Tuamotus with friends Charlie and Suni of 'Cosmos', and Mikey of 'Just Dessert'.
Judy Meeks, was asked to leave the airport terminal. What an unbelievable turn of events, as just days before we'd been living a life of freedom aboard our Alajuela 38 Desire in French Polynesia. It all started on April 12 of last year, when Judy and I set sail from Cabo San Lucas for the Marquesas and points beyond. Right from the beginning our adventures surpassed all our expectations, for at nearly every stop our faith in humanity was renewed by the genuine kindness and goodness of the locals — and by fellow cruisers from all over
When two Honolulu police officers showed up, I knew things had taken a turn for the worse. the planet. To say that we were having a fabulous time would be a tremendous understatement. We reveled in the freedom unknown to most people, a freedom that, not too long in the future, would be taken from me. Judy and I happily cruised through the Marquesas to the Tuamotus, then on to the Society Islands, where we decided to call it a season. We put Desire on the Page 128 •
Latitude 38
• February, 2006
guard and couldn't understand what it was all about. But the bad dream would only get worse. After a number of questions about my social security number and date of birth, I was asked if I could produce identification in addition to my passport. After 20 minutes of stuff like this, it became apparent to me that something really bad was brewing. I was questioned about my
history in Arkansas, a state that I had only passed through in years gone by. When two Honolulu police officers showed up, I knew things had taken a turn for the worse. Naturally, Judy was beginning to become very concerned. But she was asked to step aside while I was taken to a confined area. The police then informed me that I was going to be arrested on a felony extradition warrant issued by the state of Arkansas. "What!!!" I was to be charged with writing a string of bad checks in Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. I was then shown the warrant, which had been issued in June of last year. At this point I was very optimistic that things could be quickly cleared up, as the stamps in my passport clearly indicated that I had been in Mexico in January, arrived in French Polynesia in May, and didn't leave Polynesia until September. Surely this would prove that I was nowhere near Arkansas, Kansas or Texas when the bad checks had been written. I further suggested that the checks be faxed so they could compare my signature with the fake, at which time I assumed all would be forgotten and I would be released. The Honolulu Police were having none of it. They informed me that they were obligated to detain me, as my name, social security number, and date of birth all matched the description on the warrant. I was to be held for extradition back to Arkansas. Then I was told it would likely take two to three weeks before someone from Arkansas showed up to get me! If that wasn't bad enough, I was to be held without bail. All this was happening on a Sunday, so the Honolulu detectives