PDX screener accused of theft

KATU News ^ | June 4, 2003 | KATU News

[Henrietta]

A federal airport screener at Portland International Airport is on unpaid leave after being accused of taking $1,300 in cash from a woman's purse last month at a security checkpoint. Thirteen crumpled $100 bills were found in a garbage can near the checkpoint after the woman discovered the money was missing.

The passenger, 39-year old Leonora Usi of Aloha, said she has a video her husband took as she passed through airport security. Usi said the video shows the screener holding something in his left hand while she is being searched.

[Henrietta]

Wait, this surely could not have happened! Several FReepers have assured me that the TSA screeners undergo background checks, and are much more professional than the Wackenhut whackjobs that we used to have here in Portland...

Coming soon: Forbidding of videotaping in the security screening areas, so that the TSA screeners don't have to worry about who is watching.

[HAL9000]

Coming soon: Forbidding of videotaping in the security screening areas, so that the TSA screeners don't have to worry about who is watching.

That is already illegal. The people who were robbed may be headed to prison next.

[Reelect President Dubya]

Coming soon: Forbidding of videotaping in the security screening areas, so that the TSA screeners don't have to worry about who is watching.

You beat me to it.

[Redcloak]

I guess that the screeners were all too busy rifling through bags looking for valuables to notice the guy with the video camera.

[Reelect President Dubya]

That is already illegal. The people who were robbed may be headed to prison next.

For the same reason the government can wiretap you, but you can't even record your own conversation with a government agent, I would presume.

[ContentiousObjector]

You should see the TSA at LAX and in Houston, the guys in LAX all look like gang bangers and the guys in Houston all look like guests on the Jerry Springer show.

Not exactly confidence inspiring.

[Atlas Sneezed]

At one LAX checkpoint, someone pointed out to me that 9 of 10 personnel were non-white.

PDX has quite a reputation for goonish security.

[joesnuffy]

Homie land security
and affirmative action security guards...and cops....

[Henrietta]

"Homie land security
and affirmative action security guards...and cops...."

The suspect in this case is white!

[B Knotts]

"We're from the government, and we're here to help you."

[AngryJawa]

At ATL, the typical TSA screener is a 300lb black woman with 5 inch nails, antigravity hair, and a serious attitude problem. Needless to say but I'll be driving to as many destinations as possible until this mess is fixed.