A 19-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly attacking and injuring three TSA agents at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport after her apple juice was taken away, authorities said. In a statement, the TSA said a security screening process was underway when Makiah Cherae Coleman attacked the agents, Fox 10 Phoenix reported.
Court documents stated that the female traveler got angry and attacked the TSA officials during the screening because they had taken away her apple juice. “[Coleman] was ranting and raving about the apple juice and walks around the barrier and attempts to grab the bin containing her items being screened from the TSA agent,” the probable cause statement said.
Coleman is said to have hit an agent’s head and torn his shirt after she climbed the counter. Court documents also stated that efforts to hold her back during the assault proved futile. Officials said Coleman also hit a different agent and yanked her hair, adding that she allegedly bit another agent who attempted to intervene.
The incident is said to have disrupted the flow of work at the airport, and two of the injured officers had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
“Unfortunately, this situation not only resulted in three of our TSA officers being injured, but inconvenienced approximately 450 travelers who had to be redirected to a nearby checkpoint for security screening due to the actions of this traveler,” the TSA said in the statement.
The charges brought against Coleman include aggravated assault, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct, per Fox 10 Phoenix. The TSA also notified travelers that “threats, verbal abuse or physical violence of any kind against our employees is not tolerated and will result in criminal penalties and fines of up to $13,910.”
