CNN
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Three Transportation Safety Administration officers have been injured in an “unprovoked and brazen” assault by a traveler at a Phoenix airport Tuesday morning, the company mentioned.
The TSA officers have been working at a safety checkpoint at Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport simply earlier than 6 a.m. native time after they have been attacked by a lady through the safety screening course of, the TSA mentioned in an announcement.
Two of the officers have been taken to a hospital, the place they have been handled and launched, based on the TSA. Authorities didn’t present particulars on the character of their accidents.
Phoenix police responded and arrested 19-year-old Makiah Coleman, Sgt. Brian Bower informed CNN.
“The suspect concerned on this case was taken into custody and later booked into jail with out additional incident,” Phoenix police mentioned.
Coleman faces a number of assault fees for assault, together with felony harm and disorderly conduct, based on the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace inmate info web page.
It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not Coleman had an legal professional. CNN has sought remark from the Maricopa County public defender’s workplace.
Officers have additionally not mentioned what led as much as the assault, which TSA mentioned resulted within the closure of the safety checkpoint.
“We’re grateful for our dedicated workforce and for the function they play in defending the touring public every single day. Sadly, this case not solely resulted in three of our TSA officers being injured, however inconvenienced roughly 450 vacationers who needed to be redirected to a close-by checkpoint for safety screening because of the actions of this traveler,” the TSA assertion mentioned.
The TSA mentioned it’ll pursue impartial enforcement actions in opposition to the traveler. It warned that those that commit bodily violence in opposition to its staff can be prosecuted and will face fines of almost $14,000.
“We proceed to watch the recoveries of the staff concerned on this incident and are cooperating absolutely with the continued investigation,” the TSA mentioned.
It’s not the primary such incident on the airport. In 2019, 5 TSA brokers have been injured there when a person tried to hurry by a safety checkpoint, based on officers on the time.
