"Police say man tried to bypass security at Sky Harbor"

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Police say man tried to bypass security at Sky Harbor 
By Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic


PHOENIX - Police have arrested a man who officials say attempted to bypass a
security checkpoint at Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday afternoon.


The incident, which took place just before 12:30 p.m., forced the closure of
Terminal 3's north checkpoint for about 10 minutes, officials said. No
flights were delayed because of the incident.

The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Jeffery Scott Mansfield, of
Phoenix. He was booked on suspicion of disorderly conduct, police said.

Nico Melendez, a field communications officer for the Transportation
Security Administration, said Mansfield tried to avoid the security line and
access the terminal area by going through an exit. He was immediately
confronted by TSA employees but ignored their commands to stop, Melendez
said.

Phoenix police then tried to question him, but he "bolted" and ran into the
concourse area, said Detective Tony Morales, a Police Department spokesman.
Officers then tackled him and took him into custody, Morales said.

Monday's arrest marked the third security incident at Sky Harbor in 11 days.
On June 30, a suspect in a stolen vehicle plowed through a perimeter fence
at the airport and drove onto a taxiway, speeding past several fully loaded
planes in the process. More than 50 flights were delayed.

On Friday, three Phoenix police officers were wounded in a gunbattle in
another chase near Terminal 4. The suspect in that stolen-car chase,
identified as 35-year-old Jason Lee, died from a self-inflicted gunshot
wound to the head. 

Monday, Aviation Director David Krietor said the airport's security
procedures were effective in the latest incident and that the man posed no
danger to the public.

"The system worked the way it was supposed to work," Krietor said. "We were
able to detain the person right away, so (that's why) this didn't involve
the evacuation of the concourse."


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