(MOBILE, Ala.) There are still many questions surrounding the medallion necklace worn by Lawrence Wallace as he was led into a police car Friday. As seen in slowed-down video of his walk toward the car, Wallace appears to remove something from inside or behind the necklace that may have helped him overpower Officer Steven Green minutes later.
A walk through the local flea market shows these kind of concealed weapons are much easier to obtain than you might think-and cheap too. LOCAL 15 cameras discovered all sorts of weapons disguised as jewelry, keychains, even walking canes.
"The blades have been the big seller today," says Al Delamba.
Delamba works a weapons booth at Flea Market Mobile. He doesn't know why, but says Sunday everyone was asking for his concealed blades.
"Maybe eight of them today," he says of his sales.
One in particular looks like an ordinary cane. Unscrew the top, and out comes a double sided blade more than a foot long. It goes for just $17.
"I had one guy that was almost 85, he bought one today," Delamba says.
On Saturday a LOCAL 15 photographer spotted one such necklace for $5 at the flea market. It looks like a child's toy, but inside is a curved, sharp blade. Today the necklace was sold out at every booth.
"We've sold about two dozen in the past week," says vendor Gary Wright.
Wright sells various knives and weapons, many easy to wear, easy to hide, and in demand.
"I don't know what they're using them for, but evidently they want them," Wright says.
Alabama law is vague when it comes to disguised knives and blades. It is illegal to carry a hidden bowie knife or switchblade, but the statute makes no mention of smaller hidden weapons.
Even dealers we spoke with were unsure of the law.
"I don't know, to be honest," Delamba says. "You could use them as a letter opener. Nobody says they're anything else, you know?"
It is illegal to sell this type of knife or blade to someone under 18, unless they have a parent with them.
