Problems with another shady guy trying to sneak a handgun into Disney World raise questions again about Disney's security and their long history of security breaches inside their parks
Kevin Webb was arrested on Monday at the Magic Kingdom for possession of a concealed handgun and impersonation of a police officer |
Here we go again! Police arrest another armed man with unknown motives trying to sneak a concealed handgun with ammunition into Walt Disney World, Florida.
An Arkansas man was arrested at Disney World for trying to bring a handgun into the Magic Kingdom theme park while impersonating a police office by Orange County Sheriffs deputies on Monday.
Kevin Rickey Webb, 42, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, tried to bring in a small, concealed .25 caliber pistol with seven rounds of ammunition inside a magazine into the Magic Kingdom at around 8:00 a.m. when he was "randomly selected" by Disney security to walk through its metal detectors, which is part of Disney's enhanced security screening, according to police reports.
According to sources, only one out of eight guests who enter any of the theme parks, on average, are ever selected by security for their supposed random enhanced security screening measures.
It begs the question to be asked: How many visitors actually get through with a concealed weapon into the Disney theme parks?
The reason why Webb was arrested, however, was that he told Disney security that he was allowed to carry the handgun on him because he was a law enforcement officer from Arkansas and had a firearms permit to carry the weapon.
Image of a .25 caliber handgun and ammunition clip |
Sheriff's deputies were then called to the scene, who in turn called the Sherwood Police Department (SPD) to verify Webb's story.
When the call was made, it was discovered that Webb was fired from the department back in 2013 for "dishonesty and untruthfulness" and should not have had SPD credential in his possession.
Webb had previously worked nine years as an SPD officer, but has not been on the force for the last three years.
After the call, Webb was alleged to have changed his story to deputies, saying he was retired from the force and was allowed to carry his gun for five years after retirement.
The Orlando Pulse nightclub terrorist Omar Mateen (shown above) chose only potential targets for his killing spree. Luckily for Disney, Disney Springs was not his prime target. |
Clearly, had Webb not made up the story about being a police officer, Disney would not have called the Sheriff's deputies and likely would have let him go.
Like most persons found with a concealed firearm, if you admit having a weapon without telling any lies or arousing suspicion, Disney will give you a pass and allow you to return any weapons back to your car or hotel room without reporting the incident to the police. This is what happens in most cases when Disney finds a concealed weapon on its guests.
However, this loose policy begs the questions to be asked: How many people does Disney actually catch and let go, and how many slip through the cracks without being randomly selected from enhanced security screening?
It appears Disney security should screen everybody who walks into the parks and shopping districts for enhanced screening measures, such as metal detectors and bomb sniffing dogs, but that's not happening.
In addition, all cases where firearms are found on visitors should be referred to the police, but even that minimum amount of precaution is not happening.
Is Disney more worried about longer lines and wait times at its entrances than with your safety?
It appears that Disney is more worried about its bottom line than for the safety of its guests and employees as Disney has not really significantly stepped up its security measures after a near miss terrorist attack by ISIS terrorist, Omar Mateen, who had Disney Springs at Walt Disney World as one of his top two targets for his hit list last June.
Percival Agoncillo |
That incident in June had marked a very long year of horrifying close calls for Disney with armed gunman all over its theme parks.
A year before in July of 2015, a crazed gunman, Percival Aguilar Agoncillo, got past Disneyland security in Anaheim and entered the Disneyland theme park. When he was caught by Anaheim Police in the entry plaza to the Disneyland theme parks, just before the crowed nighttime fireworks show, he was brandishing a semiautomatic pistol which he intended on shooting.
Agoncillo later told police he was hearing voices in his head when he was looking at the lights on top of the Tower of Terror, telling him to shoot at an airplane overhead.
At that time, Disney security did not have any enhanced security measures to detect a concealed weapon carried by its guests.
Andrew Gerson |
Soon after employing these enhanced measures, an armed man was caught trying to check into the New York Hotel with his girl friend at the Disneyland Paris resort with two handguns and a copy of the Quran.
All these near misses at Disney theme parks around the globe have marked a horrendous year for Disney which has seen attendance numbers at all its theme parks dip due to longer wait times, longer lines, and increased public fears about terrorism striking high-profile soft targets where large numbers of people congregate.
Before 2015, we could only find two other high-profile incidents of firearms being found at any of the Disney resorts in the news, which again brings up a recurring theme that Disney may have previously covered-up such incident from the news to protect its own image.
In May of 2013, a Disney World guest, Angelo Lista, snuck in a Cobra .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol into Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Before that in March of 1987, a gangland gun fight broke out in one of the Disneyland parking lots, resulting in the shooting death of 15-year-old gang member Salesi Tai of Ingelwood and an gunshot injury to a 14-year-old bystander from the gun of a rival gang member Keleti Naea.
Naea was later convicted on second-degree murder charges, but his conviction was overturned on appeals on a technicality.
While the Kaleti Naea case is no longer considered a murder in the eyes of the law based on a technicality, it was not the only apparent murder that occurred at Disneyland.
On March 7, 1981, Disneyland's first murder victim, an 18-year-old high school teen named Mel Christian Yorba, died, not due to a gunshot, but rather from a stabbing inside the theme park at a special event held in Tomorrowland after a fight broke out between Yorba and a couple inside the Disneyland Park.
found to be negligent in contributing to Yorba's death in a wrongful death lawsuit that Yorba's family brought against Disney after it was learned that Disney deliberately withheld any attempts to call the paramedics to try to save Yorba's life.
Instead, Disneyland Guest Health Services tried to cover-up the incident by trying to transport the dying teen to a local hospital themselves in a company van, which delayed his arrival to the ER by more than 20 minutes. Anaheim emergency services officials strongly criticized that poor judgement by Disneyland's medical staff.
The case was such a black eye to the company that they went back into private negotiations with Yorba's grieving family, after the civil case decision, to additionally settle a non-disclosure agreement with them.
It still doesn't appear that Disney's security detail is adequately addressing the issue as this latest concealed firearms incident that got as far as the entrance gates of a Disney theme park proves again that anyone can still bring a gun into the resort undetected right up to the park gates before anyone checks to see if they have a concealed weapon.
The story of the Pulse nightclub shooter in Orlando, Omar Mateen, scoping Disney Springs at Disney World as a possible alternative target was supposed to address the issue of Disney security trying to detect a concealed weapon on a visitor well before a shooter gets to the gates.
Apparently, Disney officials are still asleep at the wheel on that particular issue.
Sources:
- Orlando Sentinel: Law-enforcement veterans join Disney security staff (8/12/16)
- The Sun: Disneyland Paris train station evacuated after ‘suspect package found’ (8/10/16)
- WFTV: Deputies: Man impersonating officer tried to bring gun into Magic Kingdom (8/09/16), with video
- WOFL: Police: Man tried to bring gun into Magic Kingdom (8/09/16), with video
- WESH: Man accused of bringing gun to Disney's Magic Kingdom (8/09/16), with video
- WKMG: Man posed as officer, tried to bring concealed weapon into Disney, cops say (8/09/16)
- Orlando Sentinel: Fired cop arrested, accused of trying to sneak gun into Disney (8/09/16)
- Attorney: Disney security director to be named in separate case (7/12/16)
- Feds investigating highly credible terrorist plot from the Middle East to attack the Magic Kingdom on the 4th of July (7/1/16)
- Credible terrorist alert on Disneyland: Feds convict two men from Anaheim of conspiring to form a local ISIS sleeper cell (6/21/16)
- Heavy: Omar Mateen & Wife Were ‘Casing’ Disney World: Source (6/14/16)
- WTSP: Sources: Gunman scoped out Disney as target (6/14/16), with video
- NBC News: Disney Hikes Security at Theme Parks With 'Visible Safeguards’ (6/14/16), with video
- Us Weekly: How NYC Pride, Disney World and More Are Ramping Up Security After Orlando Massacre (6/14/16), with video
- NY Times: Florida Theme Parks Increase Security After Nightclub Attack (6/14/16)
- Orlando Sentinel: Disney Springs adding more security cameras (6/14/16)
- Fox News: Orlando theme parks step up security measures after mass shooting (6/14/16)
- CNN: Omar Mateen: Gunman made surveillance trips to Disney complex, Pulse, officials say (6/14/16), with video
- KTLA: Orlando Gunman Made Surveillance Trips to Disney World, Pulse Nightclub; Disneyland Beefs Up Security (6/14/16), with video
- LA Times: Orlando terror attack updates: Gunman may have visited Disney World during LGBT event (6/14/16)
- WGN: Investigators say Orlando gunman Omar Mateen made surveillance trips to Disney, Pulse (6/14/16), with video
- After several terrorist attacks erupt near Disney resorts on Sunday with one confirmed credible terrorist threat to Disney World, Disney security again comes under intense scrutiny (6/13/16)
- Bloomberg: Disney Takes Added Security Measures in ‘World of Uncertainty’ (6/13/16), with video
- NY Post: Gay-club shooter considered attacking Disney World (6/13/16)
- NY Daily News: Omar Mateen may have planned Disney World attack (6/13/16), with video
- WSJ: Orlando Shooter Scouted Walt Disney World During Search for Targets (6/13/16), with video
- NBC News: Orlando Nightclub Massacre Live Blog: Latest Updates on Pulse Shooting (6/13/16), with video
- Fox News: FBI searching Orlando gunman's computer for digital evidence he scouted Disney World (6/13/16), with video
- Fox News: Orlando theme parks step up security measures after mass shooting (6/13/16)
- ABC News: Orlando Shooter May Have Scouted Disney Properties, Official Says (6/13/16)
- The Hill: Disney steps up security after Orlando shooting (6/13/16)
- Telegraph: Disney World was scouted by Orlando gunman Omar Mateen as possible terror target (6/13/16), with video
- Daily Mail: Orlando nightclub gunman 'scouted Walt Disney World as a potential target for his deadly massacre bringing along his wife - who did not stop attack that left 49 dead’ (6/13/16), with video
- Mirror: Orlando nightclub gunman 'recently scouted Disney World as potential target’ (6/13/16)
- US News & World Report: Orlando Shooter May Have Scouted Walt Disney World As Possible Attack Location (6/13/16), with video
- WKMG: Nightclub shooter may have scouted Disney (6/13/16), with video
- Orlando Sentinel: Investigators look at possible Disney trip by Orlando shooter (6/13/16), with video
- People: Orlando Nightclub Gunman Scouted Walt Disney World as Potential Target: Source (6/13/6), with video
- Orlando Weekly: Orlando shooter reportedly scouted Disney Springs as potential target
- (6/13/16)
- Hollywood Life: Orlando Shooting: Heartless Gunman Scouted Disney World As Initial Target — Report (6/13/16)
- The Wrap: Orlando Shooter Scouted Disney World for Potential Attack (Report) (6/13/16)
- Inquisitr: Orlando Nightclub: Shooter Considered Walt Disney World As Potential Target [Report] (6/13/16)
- Reuters: Suspected Orlando shooter scouted Walt Disney World -People Magazine (6/13/16)
- Inquistr: Walt Disney World And Other Theme Parks On 'High Alert' Following Orlando Shootings (6/12/16)
- Hollywood Reporter: Disney, SeaWorld Respond After Orlando Shooting (6/12/16)
- Orlando Sentinel: Expect tighter security, attendance dip at theme parks, experts say (6/12/16)
- Man hurls explosive device at Shanghai airport, then attempts suicide (6/12/16)
- Disney worker went on booze-fuelled rampage attacking police officers and yelling 'F*** Disney' (6/1/16)
- What happens at Grad Nite stays at Grad Nite: How safe are your kids at Disneyland's Grad-Nites? (5/29/16)
- Disney security managers: Applicant with criminal records desired (5/04/16)
- Daily Mail: Man who was arrested at Disneyland Paris armed with two guns and carrying a guide to the Koran is sentenced to house arrest (2/03/16)
- NY Times: Armed Man Arrested at Disneyland Paris (1/28/16)
- Orlando Sentinel: Deputies: Man caught with handgun outside Disney World Magic Kingdom (12/12/15)
- WFTV: Man tries to bring gun into Disney World, deputies say (12/11/15), with video
- OC Weekly: David Koenig has exposed the Disneyland secrets Mickey doesn't want you to know about (9/2/15)
- OC Register: Man with loaded semi-automatic weapon arrested outside Disneyland during incident on July 9th (8/19/16)
- KTLA: Man Who Allegedly Had Loaded Gun Outside Disneyland Charged With 3 Felonies (8/19/15), with video
- KCBS: Police: Man Showed Up At Disneyland With Loaded Gun, 2 Magazines Of Ammo (8/19/15), with video
- OC Register: Man arrested outside Disneyland due in court (8/19/15)
- WKMG: Loaded gun found on ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom (5/29/13), with video
- Orlando Sentinel: Gun found on Disney ride raises questions about safety (5/29/13)
- LA Times: Anaheim: Conviction overturned in Disneyland (5/3/89)
- LA Times: Teen-ager killed in brawl at Disney lot (3/8/87)
- LA Times: Teen-Ager Killed, Another Wounded in Shooting in Disneyland Parking Lot (3/08/87)
- Orlando Sentinel: Disneyland settles lawsuit in park death (9/24/86)
- LA Times: Disneyland settlement of stabbing suit is on again (9/23/86)
- LA Times: Secrecy agreement broken, park says: Disneyland retracts negligence settlement (9/18/86)
- LA Times: Disneyland pays settlement to family of stabbing victim (9/12/86)
- LA Times: Disneyland ordered to pay $600,000 in park slaying (7/23/86)
- LA Times: $600,000 loss for Disneyland in slaying suit (7/23/86)
- LA Times: Disneyland to offer closing arguments in stabbing suit (7/22/86)
- LA Times: Doctor testifies in Disneyland stabbing death (7/17/86)
- LA Times: Stabbing victim got substandard care at Disneyland, 2 testify (7/16/86)
- LA Times: Testimony in wrongful death suit over Disneyland stabbing: Park's policy barred paramedics, nurse says (7/15/86)
- NY Times: Family of teen-ager stabbed at Disneyland files $60 million lawsuit (4/13/81)
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