On December 24th, 2024, a woman bypassed the TSA document checkpoint at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, boarded a Delta flight to Honolulu without a ticket, and remained undetected for over 15 hours. >> Okay. Well, I am. I'm not in any trouble, am I? >> No, we're just trying to figure out what's something that's going on. So, >> I know. Okay, so basically well, I came here to visit my boyfriend, and he basically said that he ordered me a ticket or whatever. So, he walked me to the booth, and he said that he scanned the ticket, and that was the one that I was supposed to get on. I didn't know like exactly what he had booked. And so, they were like, "Well, this is not your name. This is not the right name that was on the ticket." And so, he was like, "Well, I'm going to the car." So, I was trying to like walk out and find him before he went to the car. And so, I just had to go to the bathroom, so I just went to the bathroom real quick. But, I'm not sure like exactly what ticket he booked or how it happened, but I didn't like I didn't do anything wrong. So, >> Okay, yeah, that's what we're here to try to figure out. Is this your stuff? >> Yeah. >> Do you have ID on you? >> I don't have I don't have my ID. Like, I was just visiting here. I had lost my ID when I was on my way here. And so, they actually let me come out here with like a paper ID. And so, it just basically ended up getting lost. And so, he basically I asked him to book me a ticket online. He said that he booked it. He walked me to the gate. He said that he that that was the ticket for me to get on. And so, they said that that wasn't the right name. I was like, "Well, where are you going?" He was like, "I'm going to the car. I'll be back." >> have like the paper ID that they gave you? >> don't I don't have any ID. So, I'm trying to call him. I have no idea what's going on. And so, they were just mad. They're like, "Well, this isn't the right name." Well, they're like, "Well, you're in seat 29. Well, actually, maybe you're not in seat 29. We have no idea." So, I'm here. >> Where are you from? So, you had to get a flight from San Francisco to Seattle? >> Well, I actually got on the Amtrak here. And so, I was like trying to figure out a way to get back. I was like, "Well, I wanted to go like maybe on a little vacation." He was like, "I'll just book you a ticket wherever you want to go." So, he walked me here. I've never been here in my life. This is my first time in Washington. So, I'm just like walking out. >> your boyfriend live here? >> Yeah, he lives in Seattle. So, I'm I have no idea like what's going on and like >> How did you get past the security? >> He walked me in. He walked me in with my ticket and everything and he said that it was fine. They checked >> Does your boyfriend work here? >> I don't think so. >> And where is your boyfriend right now? >> I He said that he was going to the car, so I thought that he was outside, so I went to walk outside just had to go to the bathroom real quick, so I just basically came back in and so I'm just kind of like lost, so I'm like trying to see where he is to see where the documentation is that I told him I'll come right back with it. >> Yeah. >> With the stuff that he basically scanned, so I'm like I don't I have no idea. So I'm like >> But how did you get through security? Cuz >> He walked me through. He walked me through with everything. >> So he had a ticket and you had a ticket? >> Yeah, he walked me cuz I'm I'm not from Seattle. This is my first time here. I've never been here. I have no idea where I'm at right now. >> What is your name? >> My My name is Maria. So he was supposed to be helping me and so I was just like lost and so I thought that he was supposed to be helping me out and so uh he said that he was out here in the parking lot, so I was walking to see where he was, so I just walked in here to go to the bathroom real quick, but >> Um. >> I don't know if he's still there or where he's at, but I'm I'm trying to call him and see. >> What's his name? >> Uh his name is Deion. It's >> What's his phone number? >> Uh it was 510 >> Okay. >> Do you have your phone number on you? >> I don't have I don't have my phone, so I'm I've been trying to >> I am just trying to make sure I understand the situation cuz I we work here every day. >> So my my understanding is okay, if he had a ticket and you had a ticket, right? Cuz that's the only way you can really get through security. >> Yeah. >> How come he was leaving? >> Well, he because he's staying here. He lives here, but I was just visiting here, so he was like I'll just book you a ticket for a little while. >> But security doesn't let people through TSA unless they have a ticket. >> Yeah, so he showed the ticket and he showed everything and he walked me through. He walked me all the way through the >> But TSA doesn't let that happen. >> Well, he they let him walk through. He walked me to the gate and so he said this is where you're supposed to be cuz I have no idea cuz I'm I'm never been here before. I'm I'm only in my 30s, so I have no idea like >> Cuz we're trying to figure out like can you Like, for us, like my biggest concern is one, are you in any trouble? >> I'm not in any I'm not in any trouble. I don't have nothing, no criminal record anything. >> But like, do you Not like that, but like, are you in trouble where you need help or assistance like from us? Like, are you I mean, you're not in any way like Deion willingly. You're You're here by choice. >> Yes. >> Okay. And Deion was going to go ahead How long have you been dating Deion? >> I mean, we've been dating for a couple of years, so >> So, long distance relationship? >> Yeah, and so I I thought that everything was legit, so I have no idea what's going on. His mom probably knows more what's going on. I know how to get there like from the buses and stuff, so >> Where does Deion live? >> He lives like out in like the SeaTac area. I'm not sure. >> by. >> Yeah. >> did it take for you to get to the airport from here? >> Well, he drove me and it was probably only maybe like 10 minutes, but >> Okay. >> So, I mean, I can kind of like figure out where they live. I wouldn't mind going back to you guys and showing you the documentation and stuff that >> That would be helpful for us, right? I have your side of the story. I wish I could talk to Deion. >> I'm I said don't quote me. I said I think it's 3085, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure of the last four digits. They might be 3085, but >> So, when I >> Who's that on the phone? >> When I said, "I'm here with Maria Smith." He said, "Oh, okay." Then I said, "Is this Deion?" He said, "Nope, not Deion." And I said, "Do you know a Maria Smith?" He said, "Nope, don't know her." That is very weird. >> He might have said I don't I don't know for sure if that's the number. It might be eight It might be 3082. I'm not sure. I wasn't sure if that >> So, to my to my partner's point, right? It's It's not normal for someone not to have their own boarding pass because to get on the plane, you have to scan at the gate, which you know, right? >> Yeah. >> So, if you never scan in at the gate, it doesn't make sense to us that your boyfriend would scan you in at the gate and say, "See you." and walk away. >> What was he wearing today? >> Uh he was wearing probably like a gray sweatshirt. >> Gray. >> And probably like just maybe some dark jeans and probably like some Air Force shoes. >> Okay. We have cameras, so I'm going to go look back through to make sure. I want to verify your story, right? >> Yeah. >> Cuz to me, we do this every day, it sounds weird that >> I don't know what but I WOULD NEVER I WOULD NEVER GO AHEAD AND BUY I HAVE A TICKET. I've never like been encountered by like any police or any security or anything, so I'm like my kids are I'm like his mom would know more, so I'm like trying to get in contact with her. I know there's like a couple buses. >> with her? >> Well, I know that there's like a 594584 that goes like right kind of like a friend of ours. I I would just got to say >> So, you're going to take a bus and take >> And I'll I'll come back. I can show you like all the documentation and stuff like that. >> That would be good. >> I had no I just have no idea I was supposed to be leaving today. I didn't plan on staying out cuz >> Because I'm going to be completely honest. Like I I I appreciate you being frank and whether this is the true story or not, right? Like I I'm going to go look and try to verify as much as I can based on the cameras from checkpoints all the way through to where you would be boarding. >> Cuz then the other thing for me, right, is like you're saying you had a ticket, but if he didn't have a ticket >> Yeah, and he wasn't going with me. He lives here. >> He literally TSA will not let other people through unless you're accompanying a minor. They won't let people just through if you don't have a ticket. >> Yeah, they never they didn't say anything. They didn't say anything to him. Now, I don't know if maybe they didn't know. They got to just check the ID and then like you got to just go and he's like, "Yeah, all right." >> Okay, so we either have a really big issue on security's aspect, right? They let you guys through without a ticket, or the other thing is you're not telling me the truth. >> No, I am telling you >> So, but when when when he said when they I asked her she said, "What's your last name?" I said, "Smith." She said, "You're in row 29." It was somebody sitting there and she was like, "Oh, maybe you're not in row 29." >> But he didn't show you your ticket at all? >> Mhm, he just said talk to the coordinator. We're I don't know if that's like the captain or he said just talk to the person up in front and I went and talked to them and then they said they were calling the security and all that and so I had no idea what was going on. So, so like >> You don't have a phone with you." >> No, I don't. >> Cuz the hard part is is like your story >> Yeah, and so I >> There's some holes in it. >> So I went I know I don't know if he's like in the parking lot or whatever. I just had to run to the bathroom really quick, but I'm like trying to find him and make sure he's >> phone number? >> Yes, I I know that you guys have a part like in the >> Where is your phone if you >> I don't have my phone with me. My phone is actually back back home, but I know that you guys have like a part in the airport. >> Yes. >> I I wouldn't mind coming and bringing the documentation and stuff like that. I'm not >> Okay. >> And so I can bring it back >> If you come back with that documents, that would help clear out a lot of things. If you don't come back, I have this story with holes that This report I'm going to And everything's audio video recorded. This report will end up being filed and it will go to FBI and if we have nothing to fill those gaps, I'm positive they're going to try to contact you or try to fill this hole with what's going on. But is that alcohol? >> That's just like a little bit of wine, but yeah. >> And have you been drinking today? >> No, I Drinking's not a problem. >> No. >> Hold on. Okay, cuz we're going to go this route now. So I spoke with a detective of ours, right? >> Did you call the number? Did he answer? >> I called the number. No one A male answered, but he said it wasn't him, right? So I I want to just run this by you, right? So right now you don't have a ticket. You don't have any proof that you Hold on. Hold on. Let me Let me finish, right? Right now you have no proof stating that you were able to get onto the secure side, able to fly on a plane, right? I I want to believe your story, but right now, face value, we have no proof of you >> I'm not >> being able to be here, which is a criminal trespass. So hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Let me finish so I can explain all of this to you. >> I'm not. I promise I'm like a >> I know, but let me explain this to you so that way you understand where we're at, right? So right now you are detained while we are investigating a criminal trespass. Number two, hold on. Number two is if your name has no record or doesn't come back to anything, then we're going to have to keep questioning you or ID you using fingerprints. So I'd rather you be transparent cuz you did misspell your last name twice. And also how old are you right now? >> I'm 27. >> 27 years old? So so that's wrong, right? If you're born in 1994, you're not 27. So there's my point, right? So a lot of things aren't adding up. >> But I I I really didn't do anything wrong. I'm not from Seattle. I'm actually from >> That does That doesn't matter. That does not matter. That does not matter. >> I do. >> That does not matter. >> Why would you lie about your age? >> I didn't lie I didn't lie. >> That is a lie. You just told us you're 27, but you're actually 30 by the date of birth you gave us, right? So we can continue to play this game, but I'm not going to, >> I'm not. I'm not. I swear >> So So what's your birthday? >> My birthday is 3 8 1994. >> And you're still 27. Right now Right now we're going to be taking you into custody for criminal trespass. >> I haven't I haven't trespassed on >> So what we're going to do is we're going to take you up cuz I remember I told you there's a lot of people involved in this and since you aren't able to show valid ticket, we need to investigate this further. >> I know. Why >> We're putting you in handcuffs now. >> But I'm actually I don't have a criminal record. I'm actually from >> That's fine. That's fine. I appreciate you working with us, but for right now you're going to be placed in handcuffs, okay? >> We're going to But I told you though it becomes a big safety issue. The holes in your story are becoming a bigger and bigger problem. >> Give me your hand. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. Do you understand these rights I've explained to you? >> Is this all your belongings? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'll put it in your bag for you, okay? Here, put your slippers on. >> Well, can you leave Well, can I actually leave Well, so I can get >> No, you can't leave Well, it's like it was like something like a chemical that was on them. I don't know. >> So you're going to walk barefoot. >> Yeah. >> So what's going to happen is we're going to put you in a holding cell for now. >> But I didn't I really >> Hold Hold on. You're You're under arrest for criminal trespass, right? And hold on. Let me I'm just explaining something to you. I'm not asking you to talk to me. I'm explaining something. Right? So right now we're going to put you in a holding cell and then we're going to end up fingerprinting you to discover your identity. I'm not asking you to respond. I'm just telling you, okay? >> I'm I'm really not doing anything wrong. >> Hi there. >> Hello. We're going to go put her in a cell for now and then we'll come talk to you guys in a bit. >> Sounds good. Thank you so much. >> You're not detained. You're under arrest. You are no longer free to leave. >> I'm detained with no criminal record. >> That's not You're under arrest for criminal trespass. >> How did I trespass without a ticket? >> Cuz you don't have a valid ticket. >> Do you have your purse and pants? >> Mhm. >> I'm going to make sure there's nothing back here. All right, we're going to go ahead and get you in the cell. >> Okay, go ahead turn around. Face that way. >> This is a cell. >> How long will I be in here for? >> Till we can figure out what we need to do, okay? Yeah. >> I don't want to have no criminal record. >> I've never been arrested. >> It doesn't matter. You weren't able to prove why you were here at the airport, how you were able to be >> on the secure side. You impede anything, okay? So, we're just going to stop talking now about the situation. Now, we understand you're a good person and you don't have a criminal record, but that's the end of this, okay? Until we can determine what what else may have occurred, we need to figure all that stuff out. We need to validate the story that you fed to us. You remember you told us you're 27, but you're actually 30 based on the age you gave the day of birth you gave us. I don't know if you're grasping what I'm saying right now. So, that's fine. >> I'm just going to go ahead and go now, okay? >> We'll talk to you in a little bit, okay? >> I'm going to talk to her real quick. One moment. I'm a >> Hi. >> Hi. >> I'm Sergeant Merritt. Uh we work for the Port of Seattle PD. Can you tell me what's going on? Trespass on an aircraft is a pretty big deal. >> I didn't I didn't know >> Okay, let me let me I don't I don't know if you were or not. I'm just going to explain something to you. I don't All I know is very limited information about why you're here. Okay. Sure. >> Yeah, I I'm sorry. I heard you were actually a nice girl. >> So, first of the first thing we need to do is figure out who you are. Okay, that's the very first thing. And then we can verify a lot of this information that you're telling us. I'm willing to work with you, but not if you're going to lie to me. >> I'm not lying. >> You just lied about your social. >> Okay, well, the last one I'm like extremely tired. I've been like driving around all day. They said I had a flight today, so I've been like just really really tired. >> Listen, your name and date of birth. >> I'm like a rapper from >> If we can't figure out who you are, you don't even have to get on the plane. >> I I don't really appreciate you How can you >> That's not because you're lying. >> I'm but I'm not lying. I'm Somebody is harassing me. I'm messing my stuff. >> We're not harassing you. We're trying to figure out what's going on here. TSA called us and said there was somebody on the plane that doesn't have a ticket. >> They called you? >> Yes. So, there's an FBI agent that's on his way out here to interview you. >> That's fine. >> If I'm not able to identify you, then it's probably not going to go very well for you. And I don't [clears throat] want that for you. I would like for you to be able to walk out of here later. Okay? >> Yes, sir. I just want to let you know my speaker is going. Will you send me a photo like a photo of your badge? >> Yes, sir. >> Um just so I have it. Yes, please. And then the next thing I have is what's your title? >> I'm a customer service agent. >> What airline did she hop onto? >> She hopped on Delta Airlines. >> And then how were you guys made aware of this situation if you just don't mind starting from the beginning? >> So, we boarded all passengers. We closed the aircraft door. That's when we got a radio call saying we had too many people on board. I reopened the aircraft door, asked the passenger what her last name is. She just said Smith. I asked for her ID. She said she doesn't have it. So, we That's when we went through the manifest to see and we didn't have last name Smith. So, that's when I told her to come with me, "How did you get on?" And that's when she was just trying to avoid my questions. >> Did you guys see her with anybody else? >> Uh no. >> Okay. >> Coming from my colleagues, they looked at the cameras. She said she walked behind somebody. That's how she got through. >> Walked behind somebody. Can you provide a description of who she walked behind? >> Told me it was a It was a guy wearing a black shirt, but she walked on the side of him. So, like, you wouldn't be able to see. >> Did that passenger stay on the flight? >> That passenger scanned and then supposedly she just kept walking. That's That's what I was told. >> Okay. Can you paint the scene for me? So, when you guys reopened the aircraft, was everyone seated but her? >> Uh no, everybody [clears throat] was seated except for the person that was supposed to have a seat. And then that's when we found out. So, where you seated and then that's when we couldn't get her ID or anything and that's how we figured it out. >> The lady um who left the passenger >> sat in an open seat, yeah. >> And that passenger was like didn't have That's what she was the one that was standing like >> Right. >> Okay. And then she didn't give you guys a first name. She just yelled out the name Smith. >> Correct. >> And then there was no Smith on the manifest. >> Correct. >> No Smith. Okay. I'm just These are just questions that I can put in my report. And then you guys followed her out from which gate again it was? It was B >> Bravo one. She said she was looking for her boyfriend. We're like, all right, well security's coming. We're going to follow you. No, then she's like, no, I'll come back to the gate. We're like, no, you And then that's when I called you guys. >> Okay. >> And then since she left the secured area, that's when they said I didn't have to follow. >> All right. I appreciate you working with me, Jordan. >> Well, the deal with this thing right here, this is a fingerprint scanner. Mobile fingerprint scanner. If I use this and it comes back with a different name than Maria Smith, you are 100% going to go to jail. Okay? So, are you ready to tell me who you what your real name is or are you going to stick with that? >> Um that's who I am. >> That's who you are? Okay. Use your right hand, please. Thank you. You've never been booked in the jail at [clears throat] all, anywhere? >> Um probably like a couple of years ago. >> Where? >> Um probably in Sonoma County. >> All right. Put your to have you in You need to take a breath, okay? Uh ma'am, I just need you to come with us here. And and it's just right over there in the room here, so it makes it easy so we can identify you. And it's the fastest way to get out of here, okay? So, can you come with us? Taking a print is easy nowadays. It's not like the old ink ones where you had to get all dirty. I'm going to let you do it. I'll show you exactly how to do it. So, we're going to go So, basically the instructions are up here. And I'm going to go through it with you, too. But, you do here is And then when you put this down on there, you're going to see your fingerprints come up in the thing. And then you try to get it to match into that spot. So, I'll let you try it first and to see how see how it goes here. So, what do you think? Your four fingers there? So, you can see you're a little high. So, pull them back a little bit. Get that. And that's We'll go with that. So, you doing okay? We are halfway through on that, okay? Wait, was I Was I hurting you? Or was that just just uncomfortable? Okay. Just Yeah. >> Did you give all uh correct information to him? >> Yeah. >> Real name? Date of birth? >> Well, you said you'd been arrested as as a as a juvenile, or? >> Um probably I was arrested maybe like a couple of years ago, but >> And you said in in in in California? >> Mhm. In San Francisco. >> San Francisco. >> But, I just want I probably went to jail for just like maybe one day. It wasn't like anything serious. >> We'll go We'll go back in there. Do you need use the bathroom or anything? Are you Yeah. All right. So, let's go back in here. So, I'm So, I'll be back in a little bit, okay? Hey, thanks for your help on that, too. You ready to get out of here, Shana? All right. All right, man. I'm going to go sit down on that in this space over here for a minute and get you out of here, all right? >> I'm going home. >> What's that? >> I'm going to go home in the morning. >> Yep. I'm going to lock these so they don't get any tighter on you, okay? I'm going to step out this way. You want some shoes? Your shoes are in your bag? >> Uh no. >> You want to walk barefoot to the airport? >> Yeah. >> Okay. This bag and stuff is going to be going to go you to jail, all right? >> Why are we going to jail? >> I think you know the answer to that. >> I know, but it's not I didn't I didn't I don't have like any proof of the letter. >> That doesn't matter. This California might be a little different. >> The other stuff you'll have to pick up. We're going to book you in a safety thing. Hang on. >> This way? Anything on you in your pockets or anything like that that I might have missed? No, nothing at all? Okay. So, I'm going to face the the back quarter panel of that car there. Come on in here. Do you have a flight pass or anything? >> Anything I missed? Is there anything there that the jail will add an extra charge? Okay. >> All right, go and have a seat right there and watch your head. >> Do you have a ticket? >> No, no. >> Are you are you employed here at the airport? >> No, my I'm waiting for my sister. She said she just came in from Alaska, and when I talked to my lawyer, he said that I could come here, but I just can't I'm not allowed to have >> That uh >> All you have to say is if I'm trespassing, you can tell me to leave, but I am allowed at the airport. That's what they just told me yesterday. They said I am allowed to come to the airport. >> Who told you that? >> That's what my lawyer told me when I was >> No, your lawyer doesn't dictate that. >> No, I was in court, and >> You can call your lawyer if you don't have any >> No, because he's No, I I was arrested. I was arrested, and they just told me they said you can come to the airport anytime. All you guys can do is tell me to leave if I'm trespassing. They said >> There's signs that are posted you're already trespassing on our airport premises. You don't have any airport business. >> No, but he he said I could come to the airport. All you can do is tell me to leave. >> Do you have a ticket >> Huh? No, my my sister is here. I know, I'm not doing anything wrong. I really am a good girl. Well, I'm I'm waiting for my sister. >> Do you have a flight pass or anything? >> Huh? >> I'll read it. >> Huh? I'm I'm supposed to be picking her up. She's supposed to be coming in from from Alaska. >> Do you have a card here? >> No, I don't have the card. I'm not from I'm not from Washington. >> Okay. >> Well, but I'm I'm not trespassing and she told me that they told me that I could come to the airport. >> You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can Do you understand each of these rights I explained to you? >> She was supposed to be coming in on Alaska Delta. >> Alaska and Delta? No, they're two different airlines. >> Or I might be United and then I and I came to see I came to see how much the tickets were here too. So I can't >> They don't sell tickets here. >> They sell tickets at the Southwest booth. >> Your sister is coming on in on Alaska, Delta, United? >> Yeah. >> Is that like one airline? >> Uh it is. >> Okay, so I don't know if you recognize me. We talked to you on Christmas Eve when you were over at the South Satellite >> Yes, I am. >> I'm not really going to ask you Yeah. So I watched you on video where you went down and slipped under stanchions to get by security. >> Yes. >> We have cameras everywhere watching you do that. There's a video of you slipping under the stanchions earlier this week. >> No, they said that I was already advised today that I was already arrested. So that's so that has nothing to do with what's going on today. >> Oh, okay. So why are you back at the airport today? >> Because my sister is supposed to be coming into town. I'm trying to get back to California and so I came to see how much the tickets were. They said that I could come to the booth and see how much they were. >> I'm just confirming we're still talking about the same incident, right? Where you went under the stanchion. >> Yeah, that's the same day I was arrested. I was arrested for that day. >> You were already arrested for Christmas Eve too. >> I'm not really doing anything wrong like >> Have you been issued a criminal trespass admonishment? >> No. >> Okay, I will be making sure to do that as well. So you are going to be placed under arrest for trespass today. >> You're not going to take me to jail, are you? >> You are going to go to jail today, yes. >> Well, I already went to I just want to get back to California. And you actually took me to jail. I'm a single mom and I really have two kids. I went to jail on the night before Christmas and I'm really actually I'm not really >> What's your actual date of birth? >> My actual date of birth is 2/9/91. I'm really not doing anything wrong. I'm actually a good girl. >> You said your sister is flying in? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Do we already get her phone number? >> Absolutely. >> We are you said you already did get her phone number to talk to her? >> Yes. >> I didn't I it. Can I get her phone number? >> Uh her phone number is 415. >> And what's her name? >> Uh her name is Michelle. >> Can you please just write me a citation so I don't go to jail because my my kids are like they were like really worried because I didn't come home on Christmas and stuff. >> Where are you going? >> to get My kids are in California, but I'm supposed to be getting back to my kids. I was supposed to be going back to >> that where you were trying to go is to California? Then why were you on a Honolulu flight? >> On that day? >> Yeah. >> Well, because my I was saying my boyfriend had brought me here and I actually wanted to buy me a ticket because I was telling you that I contacted some rappers that were in the industry cuz I'm also a rapper. And so I think that I contacted some pedophiles and that they were following me around and that was just like extremely scared because they put cameras in my bathroom and I think they have these like little microscopic cameras that they're putting in the toilet to see my um private parts. And so I've just been really worried and so my aunt told me to move here from California. So I've been here out of state because I was scared. And so for some reason I think that they got to the airport and that they were been following me around. So I'm so scared and I was just trying to leave. I didn't know like uh how to just get away from them. >> So if you were scared, why didn't you contact us? >> I did I did. I have several police reports from in in California. >> No, but you said >> When my partner and I talked to you on the 23rd when you were over in the S Gate South Satellite facility, we came in and we talked to you. You were in the restroom. You didn't mention any of this to us at that time. >> Well, I I told him that he didn't he was upstairs. I told him when I was upstairs when I was upstairs. >> me that. No, you didn't tell me that. >> I know. So this this is where I'm at now. And I won't come I won't come back ever again. >> Let's go. Come on. All right, stand right here. I got to do a search on you, okay? I'm just going to check your pockets and stuff. Go ahead and have a seat right in there. >> The initial contact was a consensual encounter. Under United States versus Mendenhall, officers approaching someone in a public space without restraint, commands, or show of authority are not conducting a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. That distinction matters. Every statement she made before formal arrest was pre-custody. No Miranda warning required, no advisement needed. All of it went directly into the evidentiary record usable at trial. The moment the phone number she gave for her boyfriend came back to a stranger who denied knowing her, the legal status of the encounter shifted. Officers now had specific articulable facts pointing to a crime, not a hunch. That is the Terry versus Ohio standard. Terry, decided by the Supreme Court in 1968, permits brief investigative detention when an officer can point to concrete objective facts supporting a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. At that point, she was no longer free to leave. The core offense here is Washington Revised Code section 9A 52070 first-degree criminal trespass. The statute requires the state to prove that a person knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a building. A secured airport terminal qualifies as a building under Washington law. All four elements were present. She entered the sterile zone. She remained there without a ticket. She had no lawful authority to be there, and her own statements confirm she knew it. She acknowledged the ticket wasn't in her name before boarding. The second charge, Washington Revised Code section 9A 76175, covers making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. She gave two names, Maria Smith, then Louise Smith. Neither matched her fingerprint identity. She gave three different dates of birth inside the same conversation. When she claimed to be 27 years old, then gave a date of birth of March 8th, 1994, an officer pointed out the math doesn't work. She insisted she was 27. That moment on camera is exactly what the false statement statute was written for. Identity fraud compounds the trespass charge because it obstructs the investigation itself. Officers could not confirm her right to be there, could not check for warrants, could not verify any part of her account. Every false name extended the detention and generated an additional count. Probable cause for arrest crystallized from the totality of what officers had documented, no ticket, no ID, a failed phone verification, contradictory age and name information, and camera footage from the airline showing she walked behind another passenger to slip through the checkpoint. That last detail matters legally. Illinois versus Gates, decided in 1983, established that probable cause is assessed from the totality of circumstances, not from any single factor in isolation. By the time of arrest, the factual record was substantial. Arrest triggered Miranda. The Supreme Court Miranda versus Arizona established that once a person is taken into custody, they must be advised of their right to remain silent and the right to an attorney before further questioning begins. Officers read the warnings. She acknowledged them, then kept talking. Statements made after a valid Miranda advisement, when the subject voluntarily continues speaking, are fully admissible. Waving the right to silence is not implicit, it is active. She chose to keep answering questions, and everything she said after that advisement went into the record. With identity still unconfirmed, officers used a mobile AFIS fingerprint scanner. Hayes versus Florida, 1985, is the controlling case. Fingerprinting after a lawful arrest does not violate the Fourth Amendment. The scan returned a match. Her real name, Shimaya Patricia. Three days after that arrest, she returned to the same airport. Officers recognized her on site. She claimed her lawyer said she could come back, that all officers could do was ask her to leave. No court authorization existed. Second arrest, third trespass count. Each gross misdemeanor in Washington carries a maximum of 364 days in county jail and a $5,000 fine. Three counts running consecutively puts the ceiling at 1,092 days, nearly 3 years served in county jail, not state prison. In practice, first-time offenders on these charges in King County typically receive probation, a suspended sentence, and a criminal trespass notice barring them from airport property. The prior California arrest she admitted to during fingerprinting could close the door on that treatment entirely. Aggravating factors are real here. 15-plus hours inside a sterile zone. Active tailgating of another passenger to defeat document control. Multiple false identities provided during investigation. Return to the location while charges were pending. Each of those pushes the realistic outcome away from minimum and toward active time. The officer grade on this encounter is a B-plus. The investigative technique was disciplined, patient, methodical, legally conservative at every step. The probable cause foundation was built carefully before arrest. Miranda was administered at the right moment. Fingerprinting was lawfully deployed. The one gap, the airline witness interview, the most corroborating evidence in the case, came after she was already in the holding cell. That sequencing works, but completing the airline interview first would have produced a cleaner probable cause record before the arrest itself. The subject grades a D. Deliberate tailgating through a federal checkpoint. False identity across a 20-minute investigation. Return to the arrest location 3 days later without authorization. The only thing keeping this from an F, physical compliance during both arrests. TSA earns a C. Once the discrepancy was found, the response was appropriate. The failure was upstream. One person walked through a document checkpoint by staying close to someone else, and no one caught it in real time or during 15 hours of her subsequent presence. First lesson, the moment officers make contact where a crime may have occurred, every statement becomes evidence. She talked for 20 minutes before arrest. Each detail became a benchmark. Every shift in her story was documented. Invoking the right to silence at the outset costs nothing. Second, returning to the location of a pending arrest is not a calculated risk. Airport police at a major hub know the faces of recent arrestees. She was recognized in seconds. Every move after an arrest happens inside spaces law enforcement is already watching. Third, claiming legal authorization requires actual documentation. Telling officers a lawyer said she could return was not enough. The officers' answer was, "Direct your lawyer does not make that call." A court order clearing her to be there would need to exist on paper. 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. And don't forget to check out our channel for even more police interaction and courtroom content.