So what have we learned here, children?

From the Baltimore Sun (link)

This is the official police explanation.

For Baltimore County police, said spokesman Bill Toohey, "It's a sign that we're all a little nervous in the post-9/11 world."

This was the "incident" that so stressed out the intrepid Baltimore County police.

Mike Bolesta. . . .buys a new radio-CD player for his 17-year-old son Christopher's car. He pays the $114 installation charge with 57 crisp new $2 bills, which, when last observed, were still considered legitimate currency in the United States proper. The $2 bills are Bolesta's idea of payment, and his little comic protest [over poor customer service], too.

For this, Bolesta, Baltimore County resident, innocent citizen, owner of Capital City Student Tours, finds himself under arrest.

Finds himself, in front of a store full of customers at the Best Buy on York Road in Lutherville, locked into handcuffs and leg irons.

Finds himself transported to the Baltimore County lockup in Cockeysville, where he's handcuffed to a pole for three hours while the U.S. Secret Service is called into the case.

According to a Baltimore County police arrest report, suspicions were roused when an employee noticed some smearing of ink on some of the bills. The cops were called in, one officer noticed that the bills ran in sequential order, and then the cuffs were slapped on the astonished Bolesta.

Why you may ask? Well, 9/11 changed everything.

Go ahead and read the full story for the grounds of the wonderful lawsuit Bolesta no doubt will be lodging against the store and the police.

So what have we learned here, children?

Never tender $2 dollar bills in payment for anything. If you must use paper currency, check to make sure your bills are non-sequential and that there is no ink smearing. When paying for purchases at Best Buy, use your credit or debit card and look for the cashier with the friendliest face.

Oh, and since 9/11 we are all under suspicion for something -- anything -- that justifies spontaneous tasering, cuffing, and detainment.

[Hat tip to Skippy]