Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Guy Busted for Punching TSA Officer

John Christina says jab to the chest was just a joke

By Kate Schwartz,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2010 7:23 AM CST

(Newser) – Amid the uproar over TSA agents getting a little too physical with passengers' groins, one would-be flier got a little too physical with a TSA agent on Tuesday. Cops arrested John Christina after he allegedly punched a TSA officer in the chest after passing through a body scanner at Indianapolis International Airport. The 51-year-old says it was a joke: He claims that after stepping out of the scanner, he asked Gregory Hutman what the next step was; Hutman said he was new to the airport, and didn't know, at which point Christina punched him.

When Hutman asked why he got jabbed, Christina replied, "I was only kidding with you," according to a report of the incident. "I just wanted to make sure of the information and the procedure," Christina says. "I know now it's against the law to touch someone in the TSA." The Indianapolis Star reports that Christina is a frequent traveler who is used to having to go through additional security steps: he has two metal hip implants, a colostomy bag, and a fused wrist. He was charged with battery; his trial has been set for Dec. 13.

An airline passenger is patted down by a TSA agent ... this is not the agent who got punched, lucky him.
An airline passenger is patted down by a TSA agent ... this is not the agent who got punched, lucky him.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
14%
2%
14%
9%
7%
55%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 33 comments
gilgordan
Nov 19, 2010 6:53 AM CST
This goes beyond the pale, give me a break, some jerk at work pushes me in the chest, I file a police report and nothing happens, this guy touches a officer and gets arrested. This country has too many standards, and unfortunately no consistency
JimW
Nov 18, 2010 12:42 PM CST
I think more of them need a good punch. Civil disobedience works.
RaptorFan
Nov 18, 2010 10:14 AM CST
Can't we just PLEASE profile they way real law enforcement is done???? We are so unwilling to potentially offend people that we have this crazy level of security procedure on everyone instead of going after the likely targets with research and analysis. My wife recently traveled with our 10 year old daughter through a major airport on a not incredibly busy day. The TSA pulled out 2 people to go through the body scan - our 10 year old and a 16 year old girl several people behind them in line. It makes one wonder...

More Newser Stories

TSA Just Wanted Closer Look at My Boobs: Flier

Man Skips Pat-Down, Opts for Strip-Down

Profiling, Not Pat-Downs, Key at Most World Airports

64% Support Full-Body Scanners

Get Ready for Big Delays on 'National Opt-Out Day'


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment