Who needs fiction when reality is so bizarre? After being denied boarding for visible signs of intoxication, a woman assaulted three American Airlines gate agents then had a meltdown when confronted by police.
Double Meltdown: Woman Assults American Airlines Gate Agents At DFW, Then Reacts Poorly To Police Questioning
The woman was flying from Dallas (DFW) to Columbia, SC (CAE) on a work trip with a colleague. Before the flight, she consumed two “strong” vodka tonics (she later admitted this to the police). That proved enough to inebriate her and when this was observed at the gate C39 in DFW, she was denied boarding. She even had the chance to plead with the captain, but when he made clear that she would not fly, she suffered her first meltdown.
Swinging her phone as a weapon, she assaulted three gate agents. Police were called and apprehended her as she tried to leave the scene. She was handcuffed and placed in a seat in the gate area.
Police interviewed the trio of gate agents, who shared details about the assault and said they wished to press assault charges against her.
Meanwhile, another officer attempted to coax details from the inebriated woman, who suddenly became very contrite… almost to the point in which I felt sorry for her…
But when it became clear that she would be arrested, she had a second meltdown, attempted to resist arrest, and had to be forced to the ground by police officers.
And all of this is captured on riveting police body cam footage, which you can watch below:
I’ll admit, I watched it…and found it far quite fascinating. And I must commend the police officers for the way they handled this, though I think the “Airport Karen” had the right idea at first when she refused to talk. Because she shared a lot of incriminating details that will likely be used against her…
The incident took place on September 12, 2023, but was only posted on YouTube on Wednesday. The woman has not been identified.
CONCLUSION
I’m not sure what to say other than the admonition that drinking and flying often do not mesh. A few drinks before a flight may take the edge off, but if you don’t know your body…and sometimes our bodies can react in very different ways than we are accustomed to…it is advisable to lay off the liquor. This is a sad case, but I have very little sympathy for the assaulting woman and think the American Airlines gate agents were reasonable in pressing assault charges, even if they were not hurt.
I read the headline and imagined what the woman would look like, then a second later saw the photo, and she was almost exactly as I pictured her.
I am surprised that the gate agents are so fat. Singapore Airlines gate agents are more presentable.
Uncalled for.
Because most people realize that fat people can do the job just as well as thin people.
Being fat is a moral failing.
Sorry I said that, I take it back
Wouldn’t it be nice if American anti-abortion activists weren’t fat either? Kathryn Lopez and Kristan Hawkins are HUGE!
Why be a dick Derek?? You are no “snack” either.
When handcuffed, was she in custody or free to go? If not free to go, was she read her Miranda rights, including the right to remain silent?
I have understood that “the police must explain these rights to you and make sure you understand them before they interrogate you after an arrest.” https://www.egattorneys.com/miranda-rights-violations-california
So being detained is not subject to Miranda readings.
One subject I haven’t searched for is if a person is drunk/under the influence, and then is arrested and read their rights, how do the cops ensure the suspect understood the rights? I wonder if that’s come up before in a case. Maybe irrelevant since they usually don’t rely on primarily on suspect statements/confessions for evidence when the person is inebriated.
You can be detained without being under arrest. If you are arrested, then you must have you Miranda warning.
Police abuse their power all the time ie they detain people just because they are investigating something. They can’t do that..
Maybe that’s true in some states but in most states they only have to read you you’re Miranda rights if they are going to question you and use it as evidence in court. If they fail to do so then they can’t use what the person said as evidence. In alot of cases they don’t need any statements from the suspect and thus don’t read them their rights. That is a misconception that has caused many ppl to get additional resisting charges when they demand to be read their Miranda rights and become irate. I’ve watched a ton of these videos and it happens all the time.
Are you just effing stupid?
My recollection of the video is that from the time that they state “you are under arrest” they do not question her in any meaningful way regarding the crime. The questions at that point are things like “did you pee yourself?” and “are you going to walk?”
She said she wanted a lawyer at the beginning and never really disgusted the actual incident with the gate agents, so she is free from self-incriminating statements there. Her big problem is obviously the resisting arrest and possible assault charges that the officers will file.
Ugh. Two strong vodka tonics to start a “work trip”? Guess she won’t have to worry about the job anymore. No sympathy.
It should be illegal to use bodycam footage on youtube. Oh, I know the Freedom of Information act, but I don’t like it that these youtubers are making money off of stuff like this. Youtube is full of people making money doing nothing like the person who posted this. on one of these police cam channels. You might have the right to view it for yourself but shouldn’t be allowed to make money on it.
They don’t allow cameras in some courts. You can go watch for yourself but it is not available to make money off of.
Legally, there’s no expectation of privacy in a public venue.
Nope, it’s public record.
Well, if you’re against people making money off of the body cam footage then it would seem that you should agree that it shouldn’t be allowed on television either, because TV channels make money. off of viewership too.
Also investigative reporters make money off of this type of footage, and even attorneys make money off of body cam footage… where does it end?
I think the public should have a right to the body cam footage of publicly owned cameras worn by public employees while on duty.
I completely agree with you “Landing Gear.”
I hate fake boobs.
Glad Im not the only one that noticed.
Ohh…your not. “I like them au natural. Swing low..sweet chariots ” Creed – The Office
The Fifth Amendment can be your friend.
This is why I never drink with women, they go from zero to nuts in 2 drinks.
“Before the flight, she consumed two “strong” vodka tonics”
A little rule of thumb used in the medical and addiction field. Whatever number of drinks a man tells you they have in a day, double it.
When it’s a woman, triple it.
That’s the real number.
@ Matthew — Seems like the police did not handle this properly. There is no video of the alleged assault, and how/why is this video public? I hope she sues the police and wins.
Sue for what? She’s in public so no expectation of privacy. She’s detained subject to investigation and arrested and her behavior is noted by multiple witnesses, so even if by some miracle, every witness is lying, the police can reasonably infer probable cause for arrest. She doesn’t even have a colorable claim for false light. If you think it’s illegal for cops to say whatever they want about whoever they want, you are going to spend a lot of money on lawyers to hear them repeat qualified immunity endlessly.
Gene has made some of the most uniformed statements on this matter I’ve read on the internet all day.
You always take the side of the criminals.
Newsflash, 99% of the time the cops are the good guys.
I hope she sits in jail for at least 9o days. She’s a disgusting skank who pissed all over everyone who had to deal with her. Kudos to the officers who had to deal with her. They exercised an incredible amount of restraint IMO.
Yeah, it’s their job to exercise restraint. It’s also their job to read her Miranda rights and to make sure that this video isn’t leaked to the media.
Don’t you think these sorts of videos should be public…to hold all parties, including cops, accountable? I watched this and I cannot see where the cops went wrong, beyond perhpas not arresting her from the very outset for the alleged assualt.
Oh boy! She looks trouble.
I’m glad the AA Gate agents pressed charges and I wish more airline employees did this. Two “full|” drinks probably means doubles. Perhaps she should attend an AA meeting since she admits to doing this before every flight.
Lots of keyboard lawyers on here who have no idea how and when Miranda rights should be read. Really easy from your couch.
Kevin nailed it. This skank should lose her job and spend a lot of time in jail. Miranda rights for someone who doesn’t even know what day it is and pisses all over LEOs who are trying to contain her?
Cut me a break.
I’m sure those of you defending her would give up your seat and sit in hers. Not.
We got it, incel.
So I watched the entire video. All 3 Gate Agents collaborated exactly what went down. Then Karen there was belligerent with the Police Officer right from the get go and she then escalated the matter even further. I hope that her Employer was able to view this video and that her Coworker reported back exactly why she was unable to fly. If I were her Employer, she’d be immediately terminated. IMHO, alcohol is never a wise choice while on duty representing the Company. The stakes are just too high.
I find most of the comments here childish.
You guys are really out doing yourself with the comments. Gotta love the Internet . That video exceeded my expectations. The comments even more so. Well done keep them up.!!
To all the Legal Eagles out there screaming that she was not read her Miranda Rights: 2022, Vega v. Tekoh, SCOTUS removed that requirement.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Get educated and vote accordingly.
As Ron White Would say
“She had the right to remain silent, but she did not have the ability……”
She was traveling with a colleague. So the other person left her behind, jumped on the plane and flew to Colombia? Def not a team player.