Welcome you to the 16th installment of the Stogie Press “Last Weeks Cigar Social Media News and Questions”, where Boston Jimmie scours the world-wide web of cigars and summarizes relevant news and questions of the past week. I skipped last week because there was no worthy topics to discuss, but this week we have a few wacky ones.
Here are this weeks Social Media Cigar News stories and Questions for the week ending October 12, 2018.
- Drive Safely if You’re Illegally Transporting Cigars
- Buy Cigars and Steal Beer?
- I’ll Take That Cigar From You
- Question of the Week
Drive Safely if You’re Illegally Transporting Cigars
WTOP News reported this week that a minor traffic accident in Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Tunnel resulted in the discovery of thousands of untaxed cigars.
Come on folks, did you learn nothing from watching the Sopranos, if you are transporting contraband, drive safely!!
According to the report, when the officer on the scene questioned Moeez Khaliq of Glen Allen, Virginia, they had probable cause to search the van which resulted in the discovery of 84,048 cigars. They did not say what size or brand they were, but the tax loss was to the state of Maryland was put at $58, 833. I would think these were not premium cigars based on the sheer number that were in the Van.
Buy Cigars and Steal Beer?
Some more cigar criminal news came out of KSAT News in San Antonio, TX. The news outlet reported that a shirtless man was arrested after buying cigars and then stealing beer at knifepoint at a Murphy Express gas station in San Antonio, TX.
According to the report, 32-year-old Johnny Castillo walked into the store with 35-year-old Michael Humble. Castillo purchased cigars at the counter then went over to a beer display and proceeded to cut the tape and remove an 18-pack of beer. When a customer tried to stop them, Castillo wielded the knife at him as Humble held the customer. They grabbed the beer and fled the scene in a car.
Here is the Crime Stoppers image from the Surveillance camera in the store.
Authorities did locate and arrest Humble for aggravated robbery but Castillo is still on the run. With a bond set at $75,000 those were some costly cigars and beer.
A small note to criminals – this is the 21st century, there are cameras everywhere that are watching, recording, and saving your images. Is an 18 pack of beer worth it?
I’ll Take That Cigar From You
It seems like it just keeps coming – cigars and crime. Have cigars become the new gold chains? This time, reports are coming out of West Fargo, ND about an incident at a local VFW bar. As the story goes, a patron of the bar was outside smoking a cigar and one Daniel Christopher Lugo, 23, of Fargo, approached him and asked if he could have a cigar. When the patron refused, Lugo pulled out a handgun and said, “I’ll take that cigar”, and then walked away.
Police are still looking for Lugo and have posted a previous booking photo of him for help finding him.
My Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf, be careful out there with your valuable cigars, they seem to be in great demand these days. It used to be you got mugged for your wallet or jewelry, but cigars are the new gold.
Question of the Week
Jerry Cutrone, Territory Manager for La Palina Cigars asked a great question which is one of my pet peeves with regards to cigar shops.
There are a couple of dozen responses and as far as I am concerned, cigar shops should not allow cigarette smoking for many reasons. Not only does the stench of the burning cigarette disturb my cigar smoking pleasure, but the secondhand smoke is laden with all kinds of unnatural chemicals, many of which are known cancer causing agents. So why would I want to subject myself to that experience.
What say you? —- For? Against? Don’t care?
Click on the image above to respond to Jerry, and thank you Jerry for bringing this front and center.