Bryan Hagerich, a 39-year-old former professional baseball player from Pennsylvania, was reunited with his family at the Pittsburgh airport on Friday night after being released from custody in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), where he had been detained since February for possessing stray ammunition in his luggage. Hagerich is one of five Americans who have been arrested on the islands for this offense, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Bryan Hagerich, father arrested for bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos, returns to US after paying fine.
I'm so happy this was a good ending.
I will say this: Why did Fetterman show up like the absolute slob blob he is? Such a disgrace to the state. https://t.co/dDNl8cM9dz pic.twitter.com/b0sW8BhsTK— Keystone Free Press (@KeystonePress1) May 25, 2024
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival, Hagerich expressed his relief and gratitude, stating, “Never in a thousand years did I expect that kind of support.” He described his detention as the “toughest” and “darkest days” of his life, being separated from his role as a father and provider for his family.
On Friday morning, a TCI judge issued a suspended 52-month sentence to Hagerich, who had pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition on the islands. He was also ordered to pay a $6,500 fine. Hagerich told Fox News Digital that he and his attorneys had made a strong case in his defense following his guilty plea.
Pennsylvania man returns home after he was detained in Turks and Caicos for ammo in his luggage | Fox News | moral of the story when visiting Turks &Caicos: Check and recheck your luggage to make sure you do not have any ammunition in your bags. https://t.co/NbclaOw7QW
— Joe Irizarry, PI (@JoeInvestigates) May 25, 2024
Several lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), praised the decision to release Hagerich, allowing him to return to his family in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation had visited TCI earlier in the week to advocate for the release of the detained Americans.
Pa. man who faced 12 years in Turks & Caicos prison gets suspended sentence, will return home https://t.co/X3ksFfjAs7
— J.D. Prose Sr. (@jdprose) May 24, 2024
While thankful for his own release, Hagerich stressed that there are still other Americans detained on the islands, expressing his belief that they “will be home soon.” The cases of the five Americans, including Ryan Watson, Sharitta Grier, Tyler Wenrich, and Michael Lee Evans, share similarities in that all were arrested while traveling home after security detected ammunition in their luggage.
