Lawmakers fail to free Florida woman, 4 others held in Turks and Caicos

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd was one of several U.S. lawmakers who traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands to attempt to free an Orlando woman and four others being held for possession of ammunition, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Sharitta Shinise Grier, 45, was arrested on May 13 after ammunition was found in her bag during a search at the island’s international airport, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said.

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Grier told NBC10 Boston two rounds of ammunition fell under the flap of her carry-on, a bag she uses to carry a gun for self-protection in the U.S.

“It was an honest mistake it fell up under the bottom of the flap in my carry-on,” said Grier. “There was no way possible that I could see it because it’s a flap in the bottom. They took the bottom of the flap out the bag. That’s where the two rounds was in the bottom of that flap. So, it’s no way that I would of knew or seen them in there.”

“My first mission was to verify the safety and welfare of Ms. Grier and the other Americans on the island,” Byrd said on social media. “Second was to determine how we can expedite their release and prevent this from happening to other Americans in the future. I appreciate the efforts of all involved.”

Bryd was joined by U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, of Pennsylvania, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Michael Cloud of Texas and Bob Good of Virginia.

The delegation met with Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, the Brisitsh-appointed governor of the Turks and Caicos, and other top officials. Despite their efforts, Sen. Mullin said they were “not able to find a path forward,” the Orlando Sentinel reported.

The other American citizens facing charges on the islands are Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas; Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania; Ryan Tyler Watson, of Oklahoma; and Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31, of Virginia.

The group is facing 12 years in prison. Grier’s next court hearing is set for July 5, the Turks and Caicos’ Sun newspaper reported.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a travel advisory for citizens heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 24, urging travelers to check their luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing the states.

“We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your arrest.  TSA screening in the United States may not identify ammunition in your baggage; it is your responsibility to ensure your baggage is free of ammunition and/or firearms.”

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