– Woman accused of groping TSA agent (NBC, June 18, 2012):
FORT MYERS – A lot of people get peeved about TSA pat downs. But a Bonita Springs woman is accused of groping an agent at Southwest Florida International Airport and it’s all on tape!
It happened on her way to Cleveland, Ohio. Airline passenger Carol Price says while going through security to catch her flight, a TSA agent groped her.
In response, the video shows Price put down her carry-on bags, turn to a TSA supervisor and grab her – allegedly without permission – to show the supervisor what Price says she went through.
“It was a customer complaint of an extremely inappropriate search,” said Price’s defense attorney John Mills.
Mills says another TSA agent first groped Price’s genitals and breasts.
“She did not touch the supervisor as intrusively as she was touched,” Mills said.
Price says the TSA agent wasn’t following protocol – and she should know.
Price is a former TSA agent who worked at the airport until a few years ago. She got along with some, but not all of her co-workers, and says her pat down was personal.
“She’s obviously been through training and knew this lady,” Mills said.
But Mills admits Price was already emotional that day.
“She was going to her brother’s funeral,” he said, adding that she did not make it.
Instead, Price was removed from the flight, taken to jail and now faces misdemeanor battery charges.
She has pleaded not guilty
“Ms. Price just wants her name cleared,” Mills said.
The TSA says: “The pat down was conducted correctly in accordance with our procedures. Violence against our officers who work every day to keep the traveling public safe is unacceptable.”
A Lee County jury will decide in July.