Man attacks TSA officers at Phoenix airport
At least five Transportation Security Agency (TSA) officers were injured Thursday morning when a man attempted to rush a security checkpoint at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, ABC 15 reported.
The man, identified by police documents as 19-year-old Tyrese Garner, was seen on surveillance footage rushing past other passengers and charging through the metal detector.
He knocked a TSA agent to the ground and appears to throw punches at several other agents before he was subdued.
Garner was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing, assault and resisting arrest.
He allegedly physically resisted arrest and refused to be taken out of the terminal, according to documents obtained by the outlet. He was reportedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
One TSA officer was taken to the hospital and at least four others were taken to an urgent care facility with unknown injuries, ABC 15 reported.
A motive has not been identified by neither police nor TSA.
“This unprovoked and brazen physical attack against our TSOs is unacceptable,” the agency said in a statement. “We are grateful for our committed workforce and for the role they play in protecting the traveling public every day. We continue to monitor the safety and health of the TSOs involved in this incident and will cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.”
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