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By JULIE PACE
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Most people who show up at a police station in the back of a squad car don’t get a warm welcome.
Tampa police, however, invited Sergio Quinones to spend the night.
Quinones, a vacationing Swedish citizen, called police Saturday afternoon when he realized the $1,700 in cash he was carrying in a suitcase aboard an Amtrak train was gone.
Quinones, who has been traveling for eight months, doesn’t know whether the money was lost or stolen, but he does know that without the cash, he can’t afford to buy a return ticket to Sweden.
With no money, no place to stay and no help from the Swedish consulate in New York City, Quinones turned to the police, who let him spend Saturday night sleeping on the floor at their headquarters.
Quinones, born in Chile, slept behind a partition so the homeless who come to the station at night to use the bathroom wouldn’t be tempted to spend the night there as well.
Officer Mike Cimo said Quinones’ situation is unique and warranted an exception.
“He’s not causing any problems,” he said. “He just got in a bad spot, and now he’s trying to get home.”
Getting home, however, isn’t going to be easy.
Quinones doesn’t have travelers’ insurance, which would have covered the lost money. Unless he can get family or friends in Sweden to wire money to the United States, Swedish consulate Amelie Heinsjo said the department can’t do much to help.
“As much as I feel for him, my hands are tied,” she said.
Quinones said his family can’t afford to send him the $1,600 he said he needs to fly from Tampa to Stockholm. He gave the consulate phone numbers for friends in Sweden and is hoping one of them will help him get home.
Quinones said the consulate told him they hoped to update him on the situation today.
Until he hears news from Sweden, Quinones is stuck in Tampa with $60 in his pocket and no way to leave the country.
“It’s an extremely odd situation,” he said. “It’s like ‘The Twilight Zone.’”
Tampa police let Quinones keep his luggage at headquarters Sunday but couldn’t let him spend another night inside. Quinones walked around downtown Sunday afternoon, asking clergy at local churches for advice on where to stay, but he said he didn’t get much help.
With no other options, Quinones said he planned to spend the night in the park outside Tampa police headquarters.
“Right now, I don’t really know where to go,” he said.
Contact Julie Pace at (813) 865-1505 or jpace@tampatrib.com.
Hey Deanne- Enough pontificating. I am only saying this story should be checked out. And believe it or not there are scam artists out there who have conned people for more. There are plenty of homeless people in this town who are rousted, ignored, beaten and robbed. What help do they get? Where’s the help for them? Where’s the media? Where’s Deanne? I don’t know. It’s one thing to be gullible. It’s another to be ignorant. Incidentally, How much did you help the guy? How about a little more evangelizing and a little less criticizing.
Well, I wasn’t comdenming the church. However the man slept in the police station for 2 nights. And I DO volunteer my time and money to 2 different organizations. I work with down and out people almost every day. So, thanks for the lecture, but I sleep alright at night.
One last thing, I doubt this lost or stolen money was the very last amount he had—can someone check to see if he has a savings account in Sweden? He can call his bank and have them wire the money to him.
To clarify - yes, the churches here can make sure he is fed and has a place to stay until things are straightened out. Hopefully, his relatives will send money soon rather than just saying NO! I don’t think we need to foot that bill for his flight.
Terri and others condemning the church: so are you dipping into your own pockets to help this person? You’re quick to censure others for failing your expectations, but unless you’re willing to do what you castigate others for not doing,then your voice is small indeed. Quit expecting others (government, clergy, etc.) to “love your neighbor”, and share your own substance. If you’re not willing to do so and continue to accuse, then the guilt is none other than your own.
Yes, something is odd here. I used to work for the courts. At times, churches would post bail for criminals and I doubt the members knew that. This really upset me & not sure what type of church this was?!? But, $1,600 for a flight home is too much for one church to give - - not sure the parish members would be happy about that. If I lived in Sweden and a relative needed that money to get home, I’d make sure to get the money somehow - - credit cards, bank loan, beg others??? If this person can afford to take off work & travel for 8 months, somebody back in Sweden should be able to send him the money.
Deann,
I’m not real sure what part of the Bible tells us to take care of the pastor and the church. I do know that it tells us to help the less fortunate and the weak and the sick. Maybe you can enlighten me on that one.
Sounds like a simple “CON” to me.
It is so unfortunate that society has been desensitized by the number of scams and scammers out there. Bottom line is he didn’t accuse anyone of stealing his money. It doesn’t sound like he is looking for a handout he is looking for a way home. If I had the money to give him I would make sure he gets home. If he has to sleep in a park tonight we ought to be ashamed of ourselves.
The story sounds fishy to me. The man said he had $1,700. How did he expect to live the life of a toursit with only that amount and still get home at the end of his trip? Check this man out - seems like he’s fishing off a pier
I agree with Terri Thatcher about the clergy. They are certainally happy to get out contributions but when it really comes to needing help they usually arent there.
When his visitor’s visa expires have the Swedish consulate fly him home. He cannot stay here illegally just because he’s broke or can he?
Let’s see....Swede, name of Quiones, travelling 8 months (must have left home with lots of cash in that suitcase) down to 1,700 stashed in suitcase stops in Tampa knowing he needs 1,600 to get home. Nice Policeman gave hime benefit of doubt. Family says “sorry”. Might be interesting to get the blanks filled in on this story.
Shame on you Dominic, you’re not walking in that man’s shoes, and you’re so quick to judge. I pray that you’ll have compassion one day and you or no one you know experiences a situation like that. Instead of judging and condemning, pray for the man. And Terri, maybe clergy’s hands are tied because their church family doesn’t pay their tithes like the should. The Bible does teach us to take care of our pastor and church. And maybe the church would have money to help the homeless out if their members would pay their tithes, and not go to their pastor with a cut off notice from TECO. Shame on you too!!! Pray that the man will be able to get home safely and his money be returned.
I agree with Dominick.Something fishy here.No clergy to help?Forgot where $1,700 is?
Quinones: If you are reading this, could you let us know where we can meet you to help with food and other basic needs while you are waiting to go home?
I certainly do not have 1600.00; however, I would like to help with what I can.
I sent an email to reporter Julie Pace in hopes of working something out to get some help coming your way.
Rev. Susan M. Bowers
http://ifibeliftedup.com/
Something stinks here. This guy had $1,700 in his luggage. But he doesn’t know if it was lost or stolen. I hope the T.P.D.checked this guy out. I know there will an outpouring of help in the next few days . I would just hate to see someone get conned. I worked downtown for 10 years and I have heard every hard luck story out there. This one just doesn’t set right. I hope I’m wrong, and he gets some help. But I also hope it’s truly deserved.
So no clergy could help him out? They should be ashamed of themselves.
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Posted by Dominick Alesandrini, Tampa on 06/05 at 05:56 PM
Jeff- I don’t know where you live, but we should already be ashamed. There are already plenty of people, Single , couples, families, young, old, veterans,black ,white, Hispanic etc. sleeping in parks. Why should we not be suspicious of this mans story when we don’t even care about the local homeless persons story. Why as a country do we trip over ourselves to help foreigners when we have American citizens living on the streets. Your compassion for this man is honorable Jeff. But charity begins at home.