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Man arrested after punching TSA screener in Indy
John A. Christina, 51, Simsbury, Conn. was arrested Tuesday after allegedly punching a TSA screener in the chest during an examination at Indianapolis International Airport. / Provided by Indianapolis International Airport
According to a report from airport police, John A. Christina, 51, Simsbury, Conn., was charged with battery as a misdemeanor in connection with the incident about 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at the Concourse B checkpoint.
Christina, who could not be reached for comment today, was released from jail on $150 bond and scheduled in Marion Superior Court 10 on Dec. 13.
Jim Fotenos, spokesman for the Transportation Security Agency, said in an airport police report, "Our transportation security officers work on the front lines to protect the nation from a terrorist attack and physical violence against them is shameful. TSA will work with local authorities to see that appropriate action is taken."
Airport officials declined further comment while the incident is under investigation.
Similar security checkpoint incidents at other U.S. airports have drawn concern and protests the past two weeks since TSA instituted search and pat-down procedures that some fliers believe are too personal and intrusive.
It is not completely clear from the police report why Christina punched TSA agent Gregory J. Hutman, 28, Vandalia, Ohio.
The report does not indicate that Christina refused to be screened before entering the concourse and boarding an airplane. He had already stood and been scanned in a full-body advanced imaging machine before the incident.
After he stepped from the machine, the men talked, but full details of the exchange are not in the police report.
But it indicates that Christina said he has a history of medical issues, including two metal implants, a colostomy bag and a fused right wrist. MORE
If DHS is REALLY concerned about security why do they absolutely refuse to seal the Mexican border?
If you are worried about being blown up in the air ….. just consider that DHS REFUSES to seal the Mexican border, and ANTI-AIRCRAFT ROCKETS can be carried just as easily as bundles of drugs. Terrorists can walk across just as easily as MAIDS, COOKS, GARDENERS, or NANNYS. SO, After you have been groped, had your 4 ounces of shampoo stolen, your luggage looted ….. you buckle up and as you lift off …………. WHAM-BAM-BOOM!!!!! THEN you will wish they had SEALED that Mexican border.
QUESTION: There are MANY “puddle jump” regional airports that will never have enough passengers to justify a scanner. Is EVERY passenger boarding in those airports getting the “intrusive” patdown? if not …… WHY NOT?! If these scanners are SOOOoooo important, They SHOULD BE. If the scanners are SO necessary, and there is NO scanner, then EVERYONE at those regional airports should be getting the FULL INTRUSIVE patdown. …….. if not …… WHY NOT?!
Your naked image can be on the internet before you have even stepped out of the scanner..
“I just point, and shoot, and post to facebook” that is how fast that nice TSA can use his camera phone to expose you to the world.
question ….. Does anyone know any other precedent where untrained personnel are using xray equipment on human subjects?
If, as according to Janet Napolitano, diplomats “…have to subject themselves to the same ‘basic screening’ as everyone else”, why not Members of CONGRESS?!? Why not Tim Geithner?!? Why not Janet Napolitano, who REFUSED to be scanned at the the installation of one of the new full body scanners?!?
Oh, I forgot: Some animals are more equal than others.