Teen Robotics NASA Enthusiast Arrested For Making Electronic Clock

14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed arrested for bringing homemade clock to school, The Verge

"Police in Texas have arrested a 14-year-old boy for building a clock. Ahmed Mohamed, who lives in Irving and has a keen interest in robotics and engineering, put the device together on Sunday night. When he took it to school the next day, he was pulled out of class, interviewed by police officers, and taken in handcuffs to juvenile detention, after being told by teachers that his creation looked like a bomb. A picture reportedly taken by Ahmed's sister shows him in handcuffs at the juvenile detention center, sporting a NASA T-shirt and an understandably confused expression. Ahmed was fingerprinted, before being allowed to return home, but is still serving a three-day suspension from school."

Larger image

Irving 9th-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school: 'So you tried to make a bomb?', Dallas News

"Ahmed Mohamed who makes his own radios and repairs his own go-kart hoped to impress his teachers when he brought a homemade clock to MacArthur High on Monday. Instead, the school phoned police about Ahmed's circuit-stuffed pencil case. So the 14-year-old missed the student council meeting and took a trip in handcuffs to juvenile detention. His clock now sits in an evidence room. Police say they may yet charge him with making a hoax bomb though they acknowledge he told everyone who would listen that it's a clock."

Keith's note: Yea this is the right way to encourage the next generation of space explorers, engineers, entrepreneurs. Note that he was wearing a NASA T-shirt. This guy could grow up to be the next Mark Whatney. #IStandWithAhmed