Trying to Skip Airport Security Led to His Arrest—Here's Why That's a Federal Crime | Legal Analysis

[00:00:00]I'm not going to take me home or something.

[00:00:02]I'm not going to take me home or something.

[00:00:04]>> No, you're under arrest.

[00:00:12]No, I'm not. This is your last chance.

[00:00:15]>> On May 24, 2024, at an airport security checkpoint, a traveler bypassed TSA screening and triggered federal criminal liability.

[00:00:25]>> Tango 221, we got one fighting in lane 13 TSA. Stop resisting.

[00:00:30]>> Stop resisting.

[00:00:30]>> Stop resisting.

[00:00:32]>> Relax. Relax. Relax. What's the problem?

[00:00:34]What do you need?

[00:00:34]>> Ain't nobody going to find me no way to sleep if I don't make my flight.

[00:00:37]>> Can you stop touching me?

[00:00:38]>> Is he clear?

[00:00:41]Stop resisting. Don't resist.

[00:00:46]Hey, call for more units.

[00:00:49]Listen, we don't want to hurt you. Have a seat on the ground.

[00:00:50]>> That guy don't give a [ __ ] about me.

[00:00:51]>> Okay. Have a seat.

[00:00:53]>> Where am I going to sleep at? You going to let me in your house?

[00:00:56]>> All right. Have a seat. Have a seat on the ground.

[00:00:57]>> I don't live here.

[00:01:22]>> Get a taser. Get Keep what you got. Are you okay?

[00:01:31]>> I got it.

[00:01:31]>> Are you okay?

[00:01:32]>> I'm good.

[00:01:32]>> Okay. We got We got what we got.

[00:01:35]Hold this.

[00:01:36]>> Hold this. Hold this. Hold this.

[00:01:38]>> Hold this.

[00:01:42]>> Cool back the scenes. Make sure you check me.

[00:01:44]>> Guys, I'm going to have to let go whoever doesn't have hands.

[00:01:46]She's got She's got him.

[00:01:50]Legs. Legs. Get legs.

[00:01:53]Put down your hands.

[00:01:55]Quit raising your hands.

[00:01:56]>> I'm not Stop resisting. Listen. Listen.

[00:02:00]This is his arm. Release this hand.

[00:02:02]Dennis, stop. Slow down. Slow down.

[00:02:05]We're good.

[00:02:06]We can We can roll his arm up.

[00:02:10]Hey. Hey. We're going to get the We're going to roll YOUR LEG. HEY.

[00:02:15]WE'RE GOING TO ROLL YOUR ARM UP.

[00:02:18]LISTEN.

[00:02:19]WE'RE GOING TO ROLL YOUR ARM UP.

[00:02:21]You're going to put your hand behind your back. If you keep resisting, you run the risk of getting hurt. Do you understand?

[00:02:28]DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

[00:02:31]ROLL HIM BACK.

[00:02:33]I GOT TWO.

[00:02:34]OKAY. ROLL HIM OVER just a little bit.

[00:02:37]Here. Hold it. Pin that arm. I'm going to come to the other side.

[00:02:40]Alex. I got You All right.

[00:02:47]Yeah.

[00:02:54]There we go.

[00:02:55]Now cuffs.

[00:02:57]We're still fighting there.

[00:03:01]We got one arm secure.

[00:03:02]Let's roll him.

[00:03:04]There you go.

[00:03:05]Got a glove.

[00:03:26]Hold that.

[00:03:32]Can you search him?

[00:03:34]Okay.

[00:03:44]Clip him.

[00:03:45]Here. There you go.

[00:03:52]Yeah. He just come out?

[00:03:57]>> Bro, it's clear I ain't nothing on me.

[00:03:59]Y'all knew that when y'all grabbed me.

[00:04:00]What you guys taking from >> We're going to roll you over and we're going to sit you up.

[00:04:05]>> Please help me up.

[00:04:07]>> Sit him up.

[00:04:08]>> Give me my slipper.

[00:04:08]>> Sit him up.

[00:04:09]>> All right, let's start taking my >> Ready?

[00:04:11]Which way do you want to go?

[00:04:12]>> That place over there is far for us.

[00:04:14]>> They had it did.

[00:04:15]>> Got his slipper. Where's his other slipper?

[00:04:16]>> my slipper.

[00:04:18]>> Just behave yourself and walk.

[00:04:20]>> Listen to yourself when you sit down.

[00:04:23]>> I need a witness. Like who who How did this all start, you know?

[00:04:26]>> I think it's Rick and Rick Rod.

[00:04:29]You You mean I give you your slipper right now?

[00:04:31]>> So, what happened is he came blowing through the TCD. I was on X-ray and then Rick Rod was over here and the guy that was on the mat, Rick was like, "No, no, he has to go back. He has to go back."

[00:04:42]>> Right.

[00:04:43]>> And then Rick came over on to this side and then the guy kept pushing through and then Rick just kind of did this and held him. That's when I was on repeat OVD and male supervisor.

[00:04:53]>> So, sir, can I get statements from you?

[00:04:55]Can I get statements from you and Rick?

[00:04:57]Please. Yeah.

[00:04:57]>> So, I think there was a the lead that was running the lane who actually shoved and pushed him. It was Rick. I think one of your coworkers already like >> Okay. Can I Can I get statements from her and from Rick?

[00:05:08]>> Yeah.

[00:05:08]>> Yeah.

[00:05:09]>> I'm sorry.

[00:05:12]>> Take him in there and we'll have a car brought around.

[00:05:14]>> Copy.

[00:05:14]>> Got it.

[00:05:20]>> I didn't even hear that.

[00:05:22]>> Take him out of here.

[00:05:23]>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:05:24]>> Go left. Go left. Go left.

[00:05:26]>> Yeah, I've been telling y'all I got to say the same [ __ ] to y'all over and over.

[00:05:31]Y'all don't make no sense to me, bro.

[00:05:32]>> I gave you somebody to walk.

[00:05:33]>> One One let me know when you got the car coming around.

[00:05:36]Bring him to the small by the office.

[00:05:41]Right here. Just put him in the office.

[00:05:44]Put him in the office now. Let him sit down for a second.

[00:05:46]>> Yeah, let's search him one more time.

[00:05:48]You know I don't have anything. I ain't You a weak ass [ __ ] >> Hey, it's over.

[00:05:54]>> It is not.

[00:05:54]>> It's over.

[00:06:10]Do you have his ID?

[00:06:11]>> Yes, sir.

[00:06:11]>> Can we run him real quick?

[00:06:18]What's your first name, sir?

[00:06:19]>> It's on my ID, sir.

[00:06:21]>> I I know it's there. I'm just trying to treat you with respect. I'd appreciate the same back from you, sir.

[00:06:25]I'm just trying to figure out what I came late, so I'm trying to figure out what happened.

[00:06:33]Talk to me. What happened today with you?

[00:06:35]>> I can almost miss my flight. I ain't got nowhere to go, bro.

[00:06:37]>> So, what happened? What caused all this craziness?

[00:06:39]>> to get to the front so I can make it to my >> So, this was all about you just trying to get to the front of the line?

[00:06:43]>> Yes, it is.

[00:06:44]>> So, talk to me. What happened?

[00:06:46]>> They act like they don't want to let me in. They don't >> they? The the white people? So, this all happened because you tried to get to the front of the line?

[00:06:52]>> Yes.

[00:06:53]>> Okay. So, did you hit somebody?

[00:06:54]>> No, I didn't. I didn't try to harm anybody. They grabbed me.

[00:07:00]>> Thank you.

[00:07:01]No, appreciate it. Thank you.

[00:07:04]Did you have any other property that we need to be aware of?

[00:07:07]I got your wallet and I got your cell phone. Any book bags, any fanny packs, anything like that?

[00:07:13]Okay.

[00:07:14]Where were you trying to head off to today?

[00:07:16]>> I'm going to Memphis.

[00:07:17]>> Memphis?

[00:07:18]Are you out on bond, probation, anything like that?

[00:07:21]Have you ever been arrested for anything? Okay, good stuff.

[00:07:25]All of this for trying to get there any faster? Was your plane going to be Were you going to miss the plane or something?

[00:07:31]What time was your flight?

[00:07:33]>> It's on my phone. It's almost 7:00.

[00:07:35]>> It is It is almost 7:00.

[00:07:38]It is almost 7:00.

[00:07:43]For you to act like this and have to >> put us through all of this, what was that over? What? For nothing?

[00:07:47]>> to happen if I didn't do that?

[00:07:50]Y'all would have walked off, go somewhere and be stranded here, and then leave here.

[00:07:53]>> No, we Nobody was trying to strand you here, sir. That >> I told you I told you you need to get to the front. Man said I can't let me let me through.

[00:08:00]>> Okay.

[00:08:01]Did you not talk to like a supervisor or something like that? Let them know.

[00:08:04]>> Man, he is a person that's standing right there, man.

[00:08:06]>> Okay. All right, I'm asking you. I wasn't there.

[00:08:08]>> He didn't know.

[00:08:09]>> I'm asking you. I wasn't there. I was trying to work this out so it didn't get to this level.

[00:08:14]Let me know what you got as far as this issue goes. Get them out of here.

[00:08:19]>> Sammy?

[00:08:19]>> Sir, how are you?

[00:08:20]>> Good, man.

[00:08:21]>> Apparently, this all started over he's saying that he tried to make a flight and that I guess he got into a Yeah, he tried to get to the front of the line. He tried to to try to let them know he was trying to take a flight out and I guess he got into an an argument with one of the TSA. Is that Am I understanding that correctly?

[00:08:36]>> I don't know what what he did, but >> Okay, but one one of the workers you had an argument with, right?

[00:08:39]>> Yeah.

[00:08:40]>> Okay.

[00:08:41]I don't know what the They have the cameras there. They'll pull the cameras as far as it goes. They They were saying that they were actually Were you guys actually fighting?

[00:08:47]>> I ain't fighting.

[00:08:47]>> Something was going on with him and TSA when I first came. They were going back and forth.

[00:08:51]Like there was some there was some some sort of confrontation.

[00:08:54]>> When I got there, he was already on the ground, so I I don't know.

[00:08:57]>> Okay.

[00:08:58]>> Yeah, we didn't know if he was bypassing security or at that point they were saying he didn't he didn't have he didn't go through security and he was trying to force his way through.

[00:09:06]>> Okay, but he says he has a ticket on his phone.

[00:09:09]>> I got my ticket here in my hand.

[00:09:10]>> Okay. All right. So, the whole thing was that you were just trying to get up there to make your flight and it just got it and and then it escalated from there. Is that what I'm getting?

[00:09:18]>> Yes, yes, sir.

[00:09:19]>> Okay.

[00:09:21]But you understand my point is you got all these officers there trying to get you to cooperate with them and you're acting you're acting all >> I'm cooperating. I'm sitting down. I'm calm. I ain't but you ain't got to start touching me. He touched me.

[00:09:32]>> Who is he?

[00:09:33]>> The dude the first dude in the blue blue shirt.

[00:09:36]>> The blue shirt guy?

[00:09:37]>> He just started pushing on me like why you on me?

[00:09:42]>> Okay.

[00:09:43]Just like you said. The reason why they do it that way.

[00:09:48]Of course not.

[00:09:49]We can't have anybody skip lines and go through. It's a security issue.

[00:10:07]So we're going to ask for the amount in a minute.

[00:10:12]We're just waiting to see if he's got any warrants or anything.

[00:10:18]Where is he at?

[00:10:21]Ladies and gentlemen, Sergeant Styles.

[00:10:23]How are you guys doing? So who actually had the issue with him? All right, you probably said this already before, but help me understand exactly what happened.

[00:10:31]>> So I was I'm working the queue up front.

[00:10:33]>> Okay.

[00:10:34]>> He comes He comes by and he's like He just tried walk through. I said, "Sir, you can't do that. You got to go wait in line."

[00:10:41]He was like, "I'm not going >> Did he go around the the screening area?

[00:10:44]Is that what you're saying?

[00:10:45]>> No.

[00:10:46]First he came through the middle.

[00:10:47]>> Okay.

[00:10:48]>> Of the the two queues.

[00:10:50]>> He came up the middle of the two queues while everybody was scanning on each side. Okay, I'm with you.

[00:10:54]>> So I had to I told him, "You can't do that. You got to go wait in line."

[00:10:57]>> Okay.

[00:10:58]>> He was like, "Look that I'm not going to miss my flight."

[00:11:00]>> Okay.

[00:11:00]>> So then I watched him and he bypassed everybody. He's just going across right to the front.

[00:11:06]And I went up to say, "Yo, you can't do that."

[00:11:09]He said, "You you ain't got to pay for me just to stay whatever."

[00:11:13]>> Okay.

[00:11:13]>> I'm not missing my flight.

[00:11:16]And then I was like, "You can't do that." So when he got to TDC, I told my guy I said, "Don't scan him. Don't do anything." And that's when I called for OPD and suit.

[00:11:25]>> Okay.

[00:11:27]>> He was like, "Fuck it." And he walked He just walked by.

[00:11:29]>> Now when you say he walked by, he that you mean like he was trying to make his way to the train?

[00:11:34]Or was he going back the other way?

[00:11:35]>> He was walking by the first part of the checkpoint.

[00:11:39]>> Okay.

[00:11:39]>> Where they check your ticket.

[00:11:40]>> Where they check your ticket.

[00:11:41]>> So he walked by there and he kept going. I said, "Yo, you can't do that." That's when I called a second time for OPD and and supervisor.

[00:11:49]>> Headed towards the metal detector.

[00:11:50]>> Right. He was headed towards the mag and the AIT. So then I don't know how the front the side gate got open.

[00:11:58]>> I opened it for an officer >> Oh.

[00:12:00]>> that was coming through and then he tried to come through and I said, "Don't don't let him through." So I tried to close it and he pushed I don't know forced his way through.

[00:12:07]>> Did he actually pass to go through?

[00:12:09]>> He actually passed and went through. So that's what I call a breach. That's what I call a >> And I jumped in and held him back.

[00:12:15]I didn't know what his intent was. I >> When you said he passed through, that's where that where he was with the metal detector at that point right in that area.

[00:12:22]>> door.

[00:12:22]>> The side door which is the 88 gate.

[00:12:24]>> Okay.

[00:12:26]>> So you had the mag, the side door and then the >> So how did you get back to where the metal detectors were? Where we got where where we actually came back >> He came through the side >> Cuz he came through the side. He pushed his way in and I >> That's why I held him from going any further.

[00:12:38]>> Okay.

[00:12:39]Did he did he strike you? Were you hit?

[00:12:42]Were you Okay. Did you guys strike him?

[00:12:44]>> No.

[00:12:45]>> Okay.

[00:12:45]>> Yeah, I just pushed him >> You just pushed him back?

[00:12:47]>> Just held him there. That was it.

[00:12:49]>> What was he doing at that point?

[00:12:51]>> Pushing back.

[00:12:52]>> Okay. All right. Um I'm just trying to understand the whole thing how it all went cuz I said I got there late. So we're going to pull the the cameras and all that other stuff.

[00:13:00]>> that's when all the >> OPDs came and got him, right?

[00:13:03]But he didn't strike you or hit you at this point. He just tried to force his way through to make his flight and that's pretty much what he told me in there. He said, "You know, there's other ways of doing this than what I explained to him." I said, "You could have talked to a you know, the supervisor and let him know, 'Hey, my flight is at' and usually you guys are pretty good about trying to get those guys through." So I I don't know why he went the levels he did, but um Yeah, or rebook, you know, but usually you guys are pretty good about taking care of, you know, the people, so as long as you're not injured, that's it. Just write down what you told us in there that he he forced his way through.

[00:13:34]You guys prevented him from >> I don't I don't remember how that side door opened. I guess he opened it.

[00:13:39]And that's when he he got it went in and that's when I stopped him and held him back.

[00:13:43]>> The side door is the one that bypasses that.

[00:13:45]>> Right. But he passed he passed a bunch of other passengers that were actually getting screened, correct? Where he didn't get screened at any point at this point.

[00:13:55]>> He He passed everybody waiting in line and then whoever was next.

[00:13:57]>> And that's what I'm trying to get at. He didn't He didn't get screened himself at that point, correct?

[00:14:01]Okay. All right, gentlemen. Just make sure you guys write all of that out for me, okay?

[00:14:05]You guys got all of that?

[00:14:12]I'm sorry?

[00:14:12]>> Yeah, I'm going to take me home or something.

[00:14:14]>> No, you're under arrest.

[00:14:16]>> I don't got no money.

[00:14:17]Like I said, I got to get home.

[00:14:20]>> Who's going to go ahead?

[00:14:22]We'll worry about the cuffs in a second.

[00:14:24]Put this on.

[00:14:25]All right, no wheels.

[00:14:27]All right, is that all right? Come on, Tyler. Tyler.

[00:14:29]>> I might as well carry me. I don't care how they [ __ ] on >> You're going to do that, you're going to catch another Hold on.

[00:14:33]>> I don't give a [ __ ] I need to go home.

[00:14:35]This is my home, cuz.

[00:14:36]>> Camera's on.

[00:14:38]Tyler, listen to me. You're a grown man.

[00:14:40]>> And I am.

[00:14:41]>> You acted like a grown man when you were in >> I don't I don't care. I don't care, cuz.

[00:14:44]Like I said, I need to get home, man. I don't want no else.

[00:14:47]Y'all made the issue. If y'all would have let me through, I would have been on the plane. Home.

[00:14:51]>> How old are you?

[00:14:52]>> I'm 20.

[00:14:53]>> All right. All right.

[00:14:55]The longer we take, the longer it takes for you to get out.

[00:14:57]>> I don't care.

[00:14:59]I'm still going to get home. I'm going to go to sleep at night. I'm not sleeping in no jail.

[00:15:04]>> You're under arrest. If you do not not walk, you will be resisting.

[00:15:09]>> system.

[00:15:11]We all should just die. God should redo this [ __ ] >> We'll take him. Just be in front of us with the door.

[00:15:15]I need a bag. Give me your stuff.

[00:15:17]Put your arms under and out.

[00:15:19]>> I might as well carry me out there like a tombstone. I don't care no more.

[00:15:25]I'm not resisting arrest no more.

[00:15:26]>> This show you stupid.

[00:15:27]>> No, I'm not.

[00:15:29]I don't care.

[00:15:30]>> All right, let's go.

[00:15:31]>> I don't care at all.

[00:15:33]>> Y'all know you still going to get hurt.

[00:15:35]>> Yes. I'm going to act like a little ass child like y'all want to hook lock me up or something. Yeah.

[00:15:39]Yes, it is. Yes, it is. I'm a prisoner.

[00:15:43]>> You're not a prisoner.

[00:15:44]>> This what I don't get.

[00:15:46]>> If it hurts you, don't walk.

[00:15:48]>> Why?

[00:15:48]>> All right, so it's still going to hurt.

[00:15:51]You can walk at any moment.

[00:15:55]>> Y'all like boots.

[00:15:57]>> No, you're acting immature.

[00:15:58]>> No, y'all acting like punk ass people.

[00:16:00]Y'all know I'm just a bad person. I want to get home.

[00:16:03]>> Watch out.

[00:16:15]Can it work?

[00:16:16]>> It is hurting. I don't >> Then walk like a human being.

[00:16:19]>> I don't want to walk with y'all. Y'all on my [ __ ] like that. That [ __ ] hurt already.

[00:16:24]Exactly.

[00:16:26]Anyway I can't.

[00:16:29]This ain't how I don't walk.

[00:16:32]Y'all are bugging.

[00:16:35]I want to roll.

[00:16:37]>> Put him on the hood. Search him.

[00:16:38]>> I don't have nothing. I'm telling y'all.

[00:16:40]I'm a bad person you know.

[00:16:42]Bro, stop. This [ __ ] hurt my arm. Y'all are crazy.

[00:16:46]Bro, none of these [ __ ] got a attitude at all.

[00:16:50]How the hell I got to run off somebody?

[00:16:52]Y'all need to go arrest somebody who actually did some [ __ ] Bro, what is over you? I ain't [ __ ] on you.

[00:17:01]What is wrong with y'all guys? Come on, man.

[00:17:04]Y'all ain't got [ __ ] else to do with y'all lives.

[00:17:06]Y'all ain't even got brains but to do some [ __ ] somebody else told y'all to Y'all are lost in the don't got no soul for real. You can tell. And you ain't no piece of God in y'all.

[00:17:15]Y'all are whole ass people.

[00:17:17]Y'all like to bunch up and rush. Y'all are killing folks here.

[00:17:19]>> This analysis applies federal statute and constitutional law, not sympathy, to evaluate every party's conduct. The controlling statute is 49 USC paragraph 46503. Physical interference with TSA screening personnel constitutes a federal criminal offense. 49 CFR 105 prohibits entry into any sterile airport area without completing required screening. No exceptions, regardless of intent. A valid boarding pass grants access to the flight, not to the checkpoint itself. The screening obligation is independent of ticket possession. Administrative search doctrine, United States Davis, 9th Cir.

[00:17:58]1973, waves standard Fourth Amendment warrant requirements at airport checkpoints. Entering a checkpoint zone implies consent to screening. Bypassing that process removes Fourth Amendment protection from the subsequent detention. When the subject forced through a controlled access side gate without screening, the paragraph 46503 violation was complete. Intent to harm is not required. Graham v. Connor, 1989, reasonableness of force is judged from the officer's perspective at the moment of decision, not in hindsight. Three Graham factors were present. Severity of the offense, active resistance, and unconfirmed weapon status following the security breach. The subject had not been screened. Officers could not confirm he was unarmed. This fact elevates the threat level under Graham analysis. Officers escalated appropriately. Verbal commands, soft control, hard control, then a taser request. No closed fist strikes were documented. Officers verbally warned the subject before escalating force, a procedural requirement prior to applying additional physical control techniques.

[00:19:04]No Miranda advisement is documented before substantive questioning began.

[00:19:08]Miranda v. Arizona, 1966, requires advisement at custodial interrogation.

[00:19:14]Custody likely attached at handcuffing.

[00:19:16]Any post custody statements made without advisement face potential suppression in subsequent proceedings. A search incident to arrest was conducted under Chimel California 1969 authorizing search of the area within the arrestee's immediate control. Search confirmed no weapons or contraband. This is relevant to proportionality but does not negate the completed federal breach offense. California Penal Code 148 A1 willful obstruction of a peace officer creates a charge separate from and independent of the security breach.

[00:19:49]Under California law, disagreement with an arrest does not justify resistance.

[00:19:54]The legal remedy for an unlawful arrest is judicial, not physical. TSA transportation security officers are not sworn peace officers. Their authority is administrative, legally limited to screening functions. Physical contact by TSA personnel before law enforcement arrived may exceed their scope of authority raising a separate use of force question. TSA workers receive a B minus. Calling law enforcement rather than attempting unauthorized detainment was legally and procedurally correct.

[00:20:23]However, premature physical contact by TSA personnel before law enforcement arrived may exceed administrative authority under federal guidelines. OPD officers receive a B. The restraint was proportionate and coordinated. Hospital transport following physical contact reflected proper protocol. First deduction, one officer stated you wanted to act up, this is what you get. This is unprofessional and creates civil liability exposure. Second deduction, absence of a Miranda advisement before substantive questioning is a procedural gap that weakens any resulting prosecution. The subject receives a D.

[00:21:00]No prior record, no weapons, no documented strikes against officers but three compounding violations occurred.

[00:21:06]First, security breach under 49 USCC 46503, complete upon forcing through the unscreened side gate, regardless of stated motivation. Second, resisting arrest under California Penal Code 148A1. The multi-officer takedown was a direct legal consequence of non-compliance. Third, refusal to walk after formal arrest notification, a separate act of obstruction under 148A1, independent of the initial breach. The law does not assess motivation when the prohibited act is clearly defined.

[00:21:38]Sympathy is relevant to sentencing, not to criminal liability. Lesson one, a passenger facing flight urgency should engage a TSA supervisor, not force entry through a controlled federal security gate. Lesson two, TSA personnel must distinguish administrative screening authority from physical detainment. The latter requires sworn law enforcement.

[00:21:59]Lesson three, Miranda advisements must be issued at the moment custody attaches, not after substantive questioning has already begun. Lesson four, one unprofessional statement on camera can undermine otherwise lawful conduct in both court and public accountability. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like discussed in the comments below.

[00:22:21]Thank you for watching.