A 19-year-old woman has been formally charged in relation to an April 25 assault on three Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at an Arizona airport when they reportedly confiscated her apple juice.
A federal grand indicted Ma’Kiah Cherae Coleman on six counts, including three counts of assault on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and three counts of Interference with Airport Security Screening Personnel, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona read.
19-Year-Old Woman Charged for Assaulting TSA Officers https://t.co/snidwy9RDZ
— US Attorney Arizona (@USAO_AZ) June 1, 2023
In what was described at the time as an “unprovoked and brazen” attack, Coleman allegedly assaulted TSA officers at a security checkpoint of the Sky Harbor International Airport when her apple juice was confiscated, Fox 10 reported at the time. “[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 outlet reported, citing the probable cause statement.
In her upset, Coleman reportedly grabbed one TSA officer by the hair, forced the official’s head down onto a table and began striking the officer in the head multiple times, the press release stated. Coleman reportedly elbowed another TSA officer in the head by Coleman and bit a third officer before agents could subdue her, the release stated.
Coleman reportedly told police she was angered that she had to leave security in order to get food only to be forced through a security checkpoint again, according to court documents cited by AZ Central. She also reportedly took issue that a female TSA agent hung up her phone while she was on a phone call with her mother, the outlet reported. (RELATED: ‘My Balls Hurt So Bad’: Trans Woman Bursts Into Tears In Airport After TSA Agent Hits Testicles)
Each conviction for assaulting a federal officer that results in bodily injury carries with it a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine, the press release noted. The conviction would also carry with it up to three years of supervised release. Assault on a federal officer with contact and during commission carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Each conviction for interfering with airport security screening personnel carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release, the press release stated.