Posted on 03/07/2007 3:36:20 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
EL PASO, Tx. - A Federal investigation is underway into the circumstances that led up to former Mayor Joe Wardy's detention after he tried to pass through a security checkpoint with a loaded handgun at the El Paso International Airport.Police and federal investigators confirm the man being held at the airport is former El Paso Mayor Joe Wardy, currently the CEO of Ready One Industries.
Other law enforcement officials confirm to ABC-7 that Wardy was caught with a loaded .22 caliber handgun in his carry on luggage.
EPPD Spokesman Chris Mears tells ABC-7 the incident happened about 7:45am Wednesday morning as Wardy was going through a security checkpoint at the airport.
Mears says the TSA checked his bag on the video monitor and saw what appeared to be a gun in his bag. Further inspection by TSA screeners found that it was a gun.
Law enforcement officials say Wardy was the only one detained and he was cooperative from the beginning of the situation.
According to FBI Spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said that because carrying a loaded weapon through a security checkpoint is federal violation, a prosecutor with the United States Attorney's office has been contacted.
The prosecutor who has the option to decline the case or request a further investigation has requested that authorities gather more information, Simmons said.
According to ReadyOne Spokesperson Marc Schwartz, Wardy was heading to Washington DC for a meeting with the President's Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled which handles the government contracts ReadyOne Industries is fighting to keep.
Wardy was to travel with Schwartz, as well as former ReadyOne Chairman Leonard Goodman.
Watch for more updates right here at KVIA.com.
Former EP Mayor Joe Wardy
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Nothing to see here...move along.
Has he recently converted to Islam, by chance?
If he were Islamic he'd try to hide the pistol somewhere else.
I'm in El Paso. He was a pretty good Mayor. No known terrorist ties.
But his company Ready One has been under very intense scrutiny by the feds. Former CEO Bob Jones used to be a customer of mine. He's going to be doing hard time.
Isn't El Paso closer to San Diego than to the Gulf Coast?
Also closer to L.A. than Houston.
Is he trying to become an NFL coach or an NFL playa?
The same thing happened to our former governor in South Carolina, who recently passed away with Alzheimers. It was at the start of his decline.
It reminds me of the Kinky Friedman song "Asshole From El Paso"..
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