Three more minutes. >> Stand up. Stand up, now. >> No. >> You went over to work easy because I had >> Ma'am, you're going to be under arrest. >> All right, let's go to first. >> So, you don't have a ticket? >> I have a ticket, but it's for a later >> Okay. >> And I wanted to get on to an earlier one, but I'm trying to change it, but they won't let me change it. >> Yeah. So, did you try to get on a plane? She's not >> Jimbo Fisher's kids like the last one to get on. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for your cooperation. >> I know these officers are super officers and been super nice to you. All right. >> I would like to leave, and you're not letting me leave. That seems very illegal to me. And you're cops. You shouldn't be doing this. You cannot hold a person against their will. You can't tell them they can't do It's like you're just trying to trap me or something. What are you trying to do? >> No, no. No, no. No, no. Yeah. >> On January 4th, 2025, Tallahassee Airport Police responded to a passenger who attempted to board an American Airlines flight without an authorized boarding pass. She held a valid ticket for a later flight, but had physically entered the jet bridge without authorization and was removed by gate staff. This case raises three distinct legal questions. The lawfulness of the detention, Florida's identification requirement during a Terry stop, and criminal exposure under airport trespass law. >> How you doing? >> All right. >> Okay. What's going on? >> I have a flight for this evening, but I'm trying to check in to an earlier Same Same place. But, there's this one worker here that can't >> What did What did the particular agent got to tell you? >> Well, I told me I told them I had a flight. >> So, you don't have a ticket? >> I have a ticket, but it's for a later >> Okay. >> And I wanted to get on to an earlier one, but I'm trying to change it, but they won't let me change it. >> Yeah. So, did you try to get on a plane? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You You got to have a ticket for that flight though, right? That's my understanding. Okay. Why you He didn't He wouldn't do He wouldn't help you? >> It's not It was my Okay. Let me see what your your phone is not working. What's it saying? Where's your This is your ticket This is your current ticket? Oh, you canceled it. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'm not I'm not Yeah, this is probably already booked but you got to go through them. You can't do it on your own. Oh, you still have it. Okay. That What time Okay. Cuz they have flights all day, you know. Yeah, just sit down. We're We're trying to work We're trying to work this out. We don't know what happened. He said he tried to get on the plane and he didn't have a ticket. That's Is that a big deal? It can be but we don't want it to be. So, just relax. You're not in trouble. We've got to figure out what we're going to do though, all right? It's not up to us, it's up to the airport. We're just cops that work at the airport, okay? Work with us a little bit though. A little bit of cooperation will go a long way, okay? But she said she wanted to get on an earlier flight but there was some issues with booking and He wasn't But you just can't open a door and run on a plane. Cuz that That would be bad. That's like trespassing, you know. All I wanted to do was change my flight from It's the same flight. >> Yeah. >> Same place. I'm changing it from a later time to an earlier time but the system is not letting me do it. >> Okay. So, then it probably means you're not able to do that which means you're not going to be able to fly. >> You couldn't get on this flight. You couldn't get on this flight cuz it's probably already booked and you didn't have a you didn't have the boarding pass for this flight. So, that would have been That's okay cuz they can redo it. They can do it redo it right here. There's no issue with that. But that's That one's already done. That one's gone. >> I was told there's no room for you. >> Yeah. It's already loaded up. >> Get you on that flight. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> So, uh the agent wasn't here. It's probably too late. What time would he They already boarded. >> They boarded, but my flight doesn't leave till 7:07. >> Yeah, well, it's it's past the doesn't cut off time and my 15-minute cut off time. So, it's it's like at 6:58. So, you're past the cut off time. Uh somebody will be back here in a minute. If not, you can go up front and go talk to the ticket agent and rebook. Uh I'm not sure. We're We've got this other thing. But, he was just here. He may be He may be coming back in a minute. The American agent. Like I said, boarding is 15 minutes before departure. So, you know, you kind of missed it. There's a line at TSA. So, you probably got to rebook. But, just hang out and somebody will be here in a second. If not, go back out, you know, and and go back to the ticket >> Can I have someone help me, please, because they won't let me leave the airport? They won't let me get on a flight. They won't let me leave. What do you do? >> What did you just try to do? >> Get on a flight. >> Okay, then you're not allowed to be here. >> guys are not letting me change a flight and get on the flight. >> She's got She's got a question over here, too, but it's something unrelated. What we doing? Jordan, let's look at the video. What's her name? >> I don't know. >> You got anything? She says she had a flight, a later flight. >> You're not >> You want to talk to Jordan. Tell her to leave us. >> Here, he can now explain something. >> Yeah. Show him your ticket stuff. >> Just note, I don't trust you. I don't trust you. >> Okay, that's right. We're We're We're doing this. >> This is not your bag. >> We're recording. >> You need to let go. >> You're not leaving. >> I'm going to call someone cuz this is not right. >> No, no. >> Passengers are advised not to leave baggage unattended at any time. >> You don't have any information at all? Okay. Can you show him your ID, ma'am? Would you want to show him your ID? >> He's going to maybe try to help you. >> I'm going to go uh I'm going to go to Burning Man. >> what are you wanting done with her? Are we Are you filing anything? >> Uh, I mean, I guess because I don't know her. She was trying to get on my aircraft, so that's a pretty good >> Are you allowing her to fly on another >> The first I don't know what's going on. >> Did she pull the door, walk on the jet bridge? What happened? >> I had the door open. I was finishing boarding, and I asked I did my final boarding. She went down. I was like, "Man, your boarding pass." She didn't show me anything. She was like, "Oh, look at this." >> Did she get on the jet bridge? >> So, uh, I tell her, like, "Hey, what is your name?" So, I looked the people that was missing. She was not in there. >> A5. >> And she said, "I'm the later flight. I want to get on this one." I was like, "Man, you cannot do that. I mean, you you have to have a ticket for this flight." Then she >> There was some >> She sit down. She sit normal. >> Okay. >> And at some point she >> she tried to force her way on. >> Yeah, she went down. >> I can't believe >> And I grabbed her quick before she >> did she get? >> No, you can just tell me. >> I think she was >> Because I'm sitting with >> I'm on Charlie. We're going to cancel this flight. We're going to call this flight. >> Let me recreate the So, basically she went down there, and I grabbed her really quick like saying, "Man, no, you cannot go, please." And she didn't resist or anything. But, I mean, >> Okay. Let me close the door. >> that make me feel like >> So, Brian says >> Who says? >> Brian, the ticket agent. >> It's Brian Guerra. >> It's not Brian. >> Brian Guerra. He said, uh, she's sitting, uh, the door's open. He's He's the last people to board her. She's I'm trying to get on a flight. He's telling me you can't go. Sit down. He was dealing with something. She got up and tried to go. She actually entered the jet bridge. >> Yeah, yeah. >> He said, "No, no, no." She made it like a three or four steps in and pushed her back. >> Where'd she go? >> She He's He's right there. Oh, I got his information. >> Uh, well, the the video is looks like from the video >> She's not >> Jimbo Fisher's kids like the last one to get on. >> Yeah. >> He closes the door. And And it looks like he's probably making the final boarding call. Like probably like a minute he lets Jim Fishers kid on. Shuts the door. Like a minute later I assume he's making the last call. She starts walking up. And he opens the door like inviting her in the door. And then he kind of stops her. I'm assuming he's like I need a boarding pass. And she shows the phone and I think he's pointing to the scanner. And she scans and something went wrong. So it looks like he pointed for her to sit. The door wide open he pulled the manifest. And then she just while he was screwing with the manifest probably getting ready to give it to the captain. She tried to walk on and he jumped in front of her and kind of struggled. She resisted a little bit cuz she put her hand like >> So where are you at TPW or what BA 52 cuz she's not cooperating. She won't give us her name. She called 911. >> I think she's got to go to jail. Yeah. She's got to go to jail. >> No she's got she said she had one for a later later flight today but she wanted to get on this flight. And she tried to rebook but World missed at 10:15. >> Video is pretty conclusive that she tried to get on when he was busy. He thought she had a she tried to scan but didn't work. He started looking at manifest she tried to run on the plane. He got to try to physically restrain her to get on. >> The encounter began as a consensual contact the lowest threshold under the Fourth Amendment. No suspicion is required and either party may walk away. That changed the moment officers stated the passenger was not free to leave. Under Terry versus Ohio 1968 police may conduct a brief investigatory stop when they possess reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity. The airline gate agents first hand report that this passenger had physically entered the jet bridge without authorization and resisted removal provided exactly that foundation. The detention was legally sound from the moment it was invoked. The officers then requested identification. Florida has no universal stop and identify statute. However, the Supreme Court in Hiibel versus Sixth Judicial District Court 2004 held that states may require a suspect to identify themselves during a lawful Terry stop without violating the Fifth Amendment. Under Florida statute 843.02, refusing that identification can constitute obstruction of a lawful investigation, a first-degree misdemeanor. The passenger's sustained refusal across 11 minutes was not a protected constitutional right. It was the direct cause of her arrest. Under Rodriguez versus United States 2015, a Terry stop must last only as long as necessary to confirm or dispel suspicion. Identification would have accomplished that in seconds. The passenger's non-compliance converted a routine 2-minute verification into a prolonged detention and extended the very encounter she was claiming was unlawful. On the trespass question, Florida statute 810.09 subsection 2 e cert defines trespass in the operational areas of an airport as a distinct criminal offense. Operational areas include jetways, ramps, and aircraft parking zones restricted from public access by fencing or signage. Entering without authorization, regardless of intent, triggers criminal liability. Where trespass carries the additional element of impeding aircraft operations, the charge elevates to a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment. The gate agent's verbal denial constituted actual notice under the statute. >> 10-7 Probably. We're going to wait and see. He's going to make the call. But she you hasn't given her name or anything? >> She's refusing. She's kind of like not talking. >> Let me try talking. Good. I'm sure you can go at her. >> She was very nice in the beginning. >> She was trying to get up and go, but I told her she's >> Then she called 911, so >> Okay. >> We'll stand by. >> I told her she's not free to go. >> They sent the call to us, so >> I asked the gentleman >> It doesn't make sense. >> So, we're we're trying to help you here. All right, you got yourself in a pickle. If you want to talk to us, the pickle might be able to get better. If not, it's not going to get any better. So, can we start with your ID, your phone, something? >> I would like somebody to help me. >> Okay, you're not free to leave until we identify to start with. I know these officers are super officers have been super nice to you. All right? So, let let's start with producing some >> thing is, why are you not allowing me to leave? Or I can't go on the flight, I can't leave, I can't do anything. >> free to go. >> Why am I not free to go? What did I do wrong? >> Cuz you're being detained right now. >> Why would I be detained? >> Because you went through that door without permission. >> trying to get on a flight, an earlier flight. The system is not working. So, I asked him, he wouldn't >> Well, let's see your boarding pass on your phone. >> on a flight. And I'm not going to give that to you because I do not trust you. I would like to leave and you're not letting me leave. That seems very illegal to me. And you're cops, you shouldn't be doing this. You cannot hold a person against their will. You can't tell them they can't do It's like you're just trying to trap me or something. What are you trying to do? >> Well, I'll back off you a little bit, but now we need to identify you with a driver's license or some type of ID card, a passport. >> a situation. And I'm telling you, I'm just going to leave and I'll find my own way, a different way because I don't know what's going on in this airport. I've been here before. I had a suitcase here and some things happened here. And I do not trust the airport, but I tried again. And it's some It's a another So, I just would like to leave and I don't want to deal with this anymore. And everything that you guys are doing right now, it just It does not It's very wrong. I just wanted to go on a flight. I have a ticket. This system is not letting me go on the flight. >> Because it's not for this flight. >> Okay, but I have a ticket. I said I was >> You said you had a ticket. >> What did What did Look, I watched the video. What did the gentleman tell you? When you were getting ready to get on, then he stopped you, and then you had to scan your phone, he looked at your phone, and then he said no. What did he tell you? Stand up. Stand up now. >> No. >> Ma'am, you're going to be under arrest. >> Look at her purse. >> No, no. No, no. No, no. You got to pull it out of the way. >> You got it. >> All right. Bring that one around. She's going to have to put her bag down. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Sit down. We're good. >> You can hold on to it. That's fine. No, stop. Stop. >> We're not going to Let's just take her out. >> Give me my property. Do not do that. Do not do that. >> Let's Let's go. >> Why are you arresting me just for going on a flyer? Trying to go on a >> We're trying to explain to you. >> Let go. >> Come on, stand up. We're going to We're going to walk. Come on. >> going to stand up. >> Well, let's go. Walk over here. >> Let's get out of here. >> No. >> Yeah, we're going to get you. Come on. >> Can I get a chair? >> All right. No, we don't need a chair. She's going to walk. >> You're going to walk? >> I got your purse, ma'am. >> You got to explain yourself. You don't understand what we're saying. >> I'm sure her purse is in there. >> Can I hold my bag? >> We're going to We're going to You're going to go with me. All right. Can you unhook those things, or Here. Let me hold this while you sit there. >> We're going to give it back to >> You got to sit down. >> We're going to give it back to you. >> Good? All right, I'll tell Mike you're transporting if you switch over. >> Regarding use of force, officers employed a progressive model verbal command sustained de-escalation, then control holds and handcuffing. No strikes, impact weapons, OIC spray or taser were deployed. Under Graham versus Connor, 1989, force must be objectively reasonable from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the moment of the decision. Given active non-compliance and prior physical resistance at the jet bridge, the force applied meets that standard. At the time of this analysis, the outcome of any criminal proceedings remains unknown. No public court records or news coverage of this incident have been identified. Based on the legal record, potential charges include trespass in an operational area of an airport under Florida statute 810.09 and obstruction under Florida statute 843.02. Airport police officers receive a B+. The detention was constitutionally grounded, de-escalation was sustained, and professional and force remained at the minimum necessary level throughout. The reduction reflects the 11-minute window before arrest consequences were clearly articulated. Earlier formal warning stating explicitly that refusal to identify would result in arrest would have shortened the encounter and strengthened legal defensibility. The passenger receives a D. Her frustration was understandable and her prior negative experience at this airport was real. However, entering a restricted operational area without authorization created criminal exposure. Refusing identification during a lawful Terry stop directly caused her arrest. Cooperation even under protest would almost certainly have produced a citation at most. Perception of injustice does not supersede the obligation to comply with the lawful detention. The Tallahassee Airport Police Department receives an A-. Body camera usage, coordinated response, and constitutional awareness were all evident. The minor reduction reflects the absence of a clear protocol for transitioning from de-escalation to formal arrest warning in a timely and legally explicit manner. Three key takeaways from this incident. For passengers entering any restricted airport zone without authorization triggers mandatory security protocols regardless of intent. If detained, providing identification is the fastest path to resolution. For officers, clear and timely articulation of arrest consequences gives a subject an informed choice and shortens volatile encounters. De-escalation has a threshold and recognizing when that threshold is reached is itself a trained skill. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching.