So last Friday a writer from the San Francisco Chronicle writes to me asking if I will make a statement on behalf of Geoff McGann. Who had just been arrested at the Oakland Airport with a suspected bomb making device. The first thing I thought was how terrible to be arrested at such a tragic airport, and it could not be the Geoff McGann I know because there is no reason to ever go to Oakland. As fate would have it, it was the Geoff I knew. The advertising legend. The brilliant artist, photographer, creator, father, mentor,and seven time internatinal Jiu-Jitsu champion was arrested because of his watch. I have been compared to Mr. McGann my entire life… this might be the first time he has been compared to me!
Not just any watch. Geoff’s counter culture humor plays an ironic trick on the everyday timepiece and adds a few wires and toggle switches which can be found at your local hardware store. I wasn’t there… but according to Gawker, Huffington Post, ABC News, CBS, Daily Mail, Every Newspaper, The Radio, blog, TSA, FBI, and the local sherif… things escalated quickly.
After a rigor mortisly tense 5 days the charges were dropped. I would just like to share the official statement Geoff sent me so there is no confusion:
Geoff McGann had been traveling with these watches for over six months. He went to TSA at Lax the first time he wanted to travel with one to make sure they were ok with this. They told him, “as long as you’re not trying to hide anything it’s alright.
So, he put the watch in the bin and that’s how he proceeded to travel with them for months, by simply putting them in the bin on the conveyor belts.
This is what he told the authorities over and over again and their only response was, “well that shouldn’t have happened.”
Our issue isn’t with TSA. They were doing their jobs. Geoff knew he might be stopped sometime and that he might have to explain the watch as he did the first time he went to TSA months ago.
Our issue is with the sheriff’s department. They told Geoff after looking at the watch that they knew it wasn’t explosive, that they knew he wasn’t a terrorist, that they knew he was an artist, that they knew he wasn’t trying to hide anything, and yet they STILL proceeded to arrest him because, as they said, “we have to because we don’t know what else to do and we don’t feel good about simply letting you go. And don’t worry, these charges will likely be dropped soon”…which in is fact exactly what happened. But they treated it as if this incredible travesty was not a big deal to put Geoff and his family through.
And to make it worse, they fed the press a story that they knew would paint a terrible picture of him so they could justify the false arrest. They charged him with possession of an explosive device, which they told him they knew it wasn’t, and indeed that was the case as there were no charges filed by the DA.
It’s important to note that the Federal government passed on this. They were at the airport that first night and saw the watch and left it up to the Sheriff’s department. In this day and age, it stands to reason that if there was a shred of doubt, the Federal government would’ve intervened. They didn’t.
Then, after a couple days in jail, where Geoff was required to post 8% on a $150,000 bail, and had to hire an attorney to defend this. He had to scramble letters from heads of major corporations who have worked with him for years.
He has a family…a little girl who he’s raised on his own for 11 years.
He’s been an art and communication design teacher for over twenty years. He is the managing creative director at Locomotus, a school that will train minorities for placement into jobs in the communications industry.
He’s worked on myriad pro-bono and cause-marketing initiatives….Partnership for Drug-Free America, Bill and Melinda gates foundation, Amnesty, Wounded warriors, and countless others.
This whole process was completely overblown and now he’s left to pick up the pieces.
He supports the TSA…he understands that because of the world we live in now, some of our freedoms have to be infringed upon to keep us all safe.
Our issue isn’t with TSA here. The Sheriff’s department took this way too far and clearly that’s accurate because the charges were dropped.
Geoff is also starting an advertising school for minorities and women called LOCOMOTUS. Lucky for you this school is beginning admission soon. Advertising can be a hard game to get into for anyone. If you have been called “creative” or don’t mind devoting your entire life to the most fulfilling career ever invented. If you like saying things like “I own a loft near there.” or “No, thats my second Eames chair, Ben Solomon broke my first one.” Then I suggest getting into advertising.
Anyone old enough to not respect stores on the eastern side of Fairfax should understand what they are looking at. Rogue Status, one of the original all over/MC Hammer print trailblazers isn’t gone… just evolving.
As the store is dismantled don’t shed a tear, a new one is being built. The DTA store. Looking back on almost 10 years of R.S. graphics you can see DTA was always there.
This is a wheelchair elevator built for one of the homies.
The elevator goes up and down with a simple handcrank.
Yo invited me to his home in Santa Monica. He needed to 
Vans and Stussy will do photo shoots in his backyard to create lifestyle images. This is Yo’s life.
Of course there is a tree house. Wanna see inside?
Follow your bliss is the brands ethos. Yo does exactly what he wants, and has done so since childhood.
These ain’t vanity plates, fans send in any DTA spotted anywhere.
Don’t Touch Anything. Yo’s vintage VW custom.
The famous xb with 1200 horse power. This has done 3 Gumball 3000′s and a Bull Run.
Let’s move on to the next evolution. Following his love for racing, drifting, and all around gear-headery, the DTA POSSE has a new headquarters. Unlike anything you have experienced before. Dependable Trusted Automotive.
$8,000 Snap-On tool box collabo… no no no your Mitchell and Ness collar is still cool.
In approximately 15 days you will be able to see inside. Just look for the door with the big “Members Only” sign above it.
DTA POSSE Down The Alley
I had to bring the only person 
The 
This is what the beans 
The one night Darren doesn’t wear the 
Japan
United States
FOLLOW THE HUNDREDS