Man Tasered for mentioning the word “bomb”

by Lisa Simeone on May 23, 2012

A man who was clearly intoxicated was attacked by police with a Taser after the TSA reported that he was “making threats” at Austin Straubel International Airport.

I know we’ve been told for years not to make jokes about bombs or indeed even to mention the word “bomb” in the presence of the TSA. I get it. But this man was visibly drunk. I understand that the TSA agents, who have no law enforcement authority (thank god), were required to call the police. But did the cops have to torture the guy?

Apparently he was using — gasp — profane language. Well, there’s a big scary threat for you. Under that guideline, I should be taken into custody and “subdued” several times a day. Probably several times an hour.

(Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/Michael Coté)

Tagged as: Airport, airport screening, austin, police brutality, Security, Travel, TSA