Hey, you're being arrested right now. For what? >> I'll let you know in a second when I >> obviously tell this something's wrong with him. >> I mean, he reeks of alcohol. >> Can you guys stop acting like I'm some crazy criminal? I want to go home, man. I don't like you guys. I want to go home. You urinate yourself. >> No, sir. On September 20th, 2022, officers at a US airport were notified of an intoxicated passenger arriving on an incoming Spirit Airlines flight. The subject, identified as Benjamin, had allegedly struck a fellow passenger on board. Flight crew described the chaotic scene. Benjamin directed profanities at staff, repeatedly displayed his middle finger, and jumped between seats. A crew member physically relocated him to seat 8C mid-flight to separate the parties. bag. >> You guys are around me. No, no, no. You just walk by me. Anybody have to run this person in front of me, right? Slow down. Chill out like it's a movie or something. Look right here. Right here. Just pull off right here. >> You have your boarding pass. >> Okay. You have your boarding pass. >> Your boarding pass. >> Your ID. >> This is where I'm from. This is my boyfriend. right there. My phone driver's license. >> If you do, can I see it? >> My driver's like No, I do not have a driver's license. >> Do you have any type of ID? >> Yes, it's right there. >> Okay. Can I see it? >> You are really terrifying right now. Uh, yeah, I think so. >> Where are we on the boat? >> On the boat. on board. What happened? >> What happened on board? Someone was an [ __ ] to me acting like I didn't like I deserve not be there. >> That's what happened. >> And what was the reaction to him? >> The reaction I got him. >> Did I kidn you? >> No. >> Let me have your answer. I'm sorry. >> What's your name? >> Benjamin. >> Benjamin, can you do me a favor? Go inside your bag and grab your ID. >> This is for my girlfriend's kids, okay? >> Because one of them is they like the pink and they like the blue. And that is it. >> Where's the post? >> I mean, where's the weather? >> What's the piece of paper in there? >> It's nothing, man. It's literally just a piece of paper. >> What's the other one? >> This. It's literally wireless headphones. >> Where's your ID? >> You have a wallet on it? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Can you take that out? >> Can you open that up? >> ID and it's >> and I work. >> Can I see this ID? >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. So that's what we asked you if you had a ID card or a driver's >> license. I work on boats. I'm a captain. Well, I'm not a captain. I'm training to be a captain. >> And this is your final destination. >> Excuse me. >> Where's your final destination? Where are you going? >> St. Court. >> So you won't be able to go to St. Court today. Okay. I won't be able. >> We're going to we're going to leave you for that second. >> Why? >> I don't think you're free to travel. >> Yeah, we're not supposed to get you on your on that plan coming today. You were supposed to stay in your >> So, we asking you a basic question. Your wallet is on. You don't know where it is. You find your >> story. for you. Give me a second. >> Okay. I'd like to just go home. >> We're done here. Okay. I need to ask you a question and answer. Can you give us the basics? Give us your ID. >> I gave you my ID. That's why you have to ask the wallet that I gave that to you a long time ago. >> That's right. >> It just doesn't make any sense because you guys are just trying to make up stories. >> We're not making so same thing. Yeah. It's the same exact thing. >> Oh, well, I can go home right now or you can just make up a bunch of [ __ ] and you're making up a bunch of [ __ ] Good job. You have really like sensitive looking eyesight. Beautiful. Look at this. Put this in the bag. >> Hey buddy, you want to go home and have a good time? That's fine. Do you want to be a [ __ ] piece of [ __ ] >> Make sure that you look like a piece of [ __ ] and then make you look like a piece of [ __ ] You can do that. And that's what you're doing right now. >> So these two ladies were like right by it. They said nothing physical happened. Um he was just being like really like obnoxious pointing at people. >> He changed and it was an explosion, wasn't it? >> I'm so sorry. >> I would think so. profanity. >> Yeah, profanity is um very rude to the staff using his little finger a lot and every time he's >> jumping around the seat from one seat to the other right at the beginning was one move one seat and move back and jump. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming aboard. >> I was on a cockpit break. The captains were in the bathroom. I had I couldn't get back there. The girl in the back ran up, separated them, put the one drunk guy up closer, like up to eight se 8. And this guy, I went back and talked to him. Actually, this guy's the one I put in 8C. I went back to talk to him. I'm like, you know what happened? He's like, this guy was getting into it out in the gate area. People around him said, "Yeah, he's" and he you can obviously tell this something's wrong with him. I mean, he reeks of alcohol, but I don't know if there's something else on board. Put yourself >> around your back. All right. I know what's going on. >> Yeah, you're being arrested right now. >> For what? >> I'll let you know in a second. When I know, you'll know. Okay. >> Is it a bad thing? >> Well, getting arrested is usually not a good thing. >> I mean, for what? What we know? We welcome all customers to work even all customers even like the big crazy reason that you arrest I'll let you know in a second. >> So, is there a reason that you guys drag me out here? Behavior on the airplane? That's the reason you know I wasn't on the plane. >> My behavior on the airplane. >> Yes. >> I wasn't on the plane with you. So, you listen to yourself. Sometimes >> I hear you. I don't want to be out here. >> You said it. >> Why' you bring me out here? >> You know why? >> Why? >> For what? >> For what? >> Exactly. >> So you brought me out here for what reason? >> Exactly. brought me out here for what reason? To show me around all these people. >> So always the reason you know the reason. >> Tell me. Tell me the reason. >> You don't know the reason, right? You just think you do. >> Um he's going to get arrested on other charges. >> Okay. Do you still want to press charges when I mean kind of what that involves is you guys have to come back here to court right >> go to court and deal with the state attorney and I mean you'd be the victim so it' be all dependent on you and it's a little bit of a process I don't know if you're willing to go with that >> the way I feel is like if I don't do anything you know they get away with behavior like this you know what I mean but >> he's getting something I just let it I can't tell you one way or the other. I'm just telling you what the process is and whether you'd be willing to go through that. >> Could be a year, two years. Depends on how quick it goes through the systems. I know he's got other stuff that I'm getting ready to take him for out of two other counties, two two different locations. So, he's going to be tied up for a while. >> Okay. >> Um, that's a federal charge, too. Is he right for what it is? >> We're working on that right now. That's out of my out of my realm as far as >> he's not getting away with anything. So he's definitely not flying today. >> So his trip his arms ended here. >> So amazed. Even let him on the plane and they serve them on top of it. They can smell the alcohol. Pisses me off. But as I don't want to blame spirit for it, but >> Well, they they do need to be more aware of that. >> Exactly. Exactly. has caused all this trouble. Um, >> and I'll mention that to the supervisors there. >> That's the guy, right? That's uh like the jacket, right? >> There's a couple different ones probably. Okay. Yeah, I want to talk to him before I left. Um, >> no. Yeah, it's all right. And I mean, you're right. I have to come back here and you know, all that kind of stuff. I mean, I wanted to do it the beginning. Believe me, I did, but if he's going to jail, I want to hell with him. >> Let me let me put you in touch with the president. >> Okay. Under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, section 91.11, interference with crew members is a federal offense. The in-flight assault was additionally chargeable under 49 USC section 46,56, criminalizing assault on board an aircraft. Under 49, USC section 44,92 airlines hold explicit federal authority to deny boarding to passengers who may endanger safety. Spirit Airlines failed to exercise that authority despite Benjamin's visible intoxication at the gate. Officers contacted Benjamin at the gate. He appeared visibly disoriented and struggled to locate his identification. Despite his uncooperative demeanor, officers remained patient and professional throughout the ID process. Officers informed Benjamin he would not continue to his final destination of St. Paul and arranged a refund for the canceled segment. A professional measured response consistent with deescalation training standards. Officers placed Benjamin on the ground and applied handcuffs. Under Terry versus Ohio, the crew's assault report combined with visible intoxication established reasonable suspicion and ultimately independent probable cause for arrest. Miranda advisement is not required at the moment of physical detention, only upon custodial interrogation. Benjamin's subsequent statements were spontaneous and legally admissible without prior advisement under Burkimer versus McCarti. Officers confirmed two outstanding arrest warrants in separate counties, both for driving without a license. Those warrants provided independent probable cause for full custodial arrest, entirely separate from the in-flight conduct. Officers explained that only the local county warrant could be executed at the airport. Crossount warrant service requires separate extradition procedures. The second warrant would be addressed by the issuing jurisdiction independently. The assault victim was offered the opportunity to press charges. After learning the process could span one to two years, he declined. The officer confirmed Benjamin would face charges through the pending warrants regardless of that decision. During the terminal escort, Benjamin directed sustained profanity at officers. Under City of Houston versus Hill, profane speech directed at law enforcement is constitutionally protected and does not independently constitute grounds for arrest. Benjamin's demeanor shifted from aggression to visible emotional distress, repeatedly requesting to go home to his mother. The footage raises a legitimate question about whether intoxication alone fully explains his deteriorating condition. We thank you for your attention to this important issue. >> Did you guys grab my bags? >> Did you get my bags? >> All right. >> All right. So, uh you guys know the uh uh the uh conduct of u what is it called? Uh so they can only take me for one warrant. The other warrant is in another county. They can't take me on that. >> Yeah. So it should only stand for one night. So one >> Yeah. I'd like to Yeah. >> When that county picks you up, >> that county, it's literally for driving without a license. >> Okay, listen. Tell you how it works. Okay. Now, >> I'd like to listen. >> Take care of that warning. >> It's for driving without a license. >> That's fine. Then they'll address >> driving without a license. >> Then they will address the next one. >> And the other ones, what did it? It's literally driving without a license again. >> It's not a [ __ ] big thing. >> It's driving without a license. Why? Sounds like you got nothing to worry about. >> Exactly. So, I'd like to listen to all of you. >> Look forward to see more. >> Jesus Christ. >> Can I listen to you? >> Look forward to see you. >> Dude, can you stop? >> Can you guys stop acting like I'm some crazy criminal? >> So, stop acting like it. >> Listen, dude. Listen, I don't want you to bump into anybody. See, the thing is that I need to >> Dude, I need you to stop acting like you guys are >> dragging some horrible criminal through the streets. We're not, bro. We're just trying to get you outside, >> dude. Oh my god. You know the thing? >> Keep making this more difficult. Okay, >> dude. >> All right, so can you stop being like crazy? just keep walking straight. >> I'm walking with you. >> So, I would like to listen to what I'm talking about. >> Yes, sir. I'm not trying to be a warrant. >> Okay. So, can you guys talk to me? >> Yep. >> Yeah, but you're being an [ __ ] Okay. You're doing a total [ __ ] douchebag of your name. But do you not realize that? Okay. Are you getting offended because I'm using the word douchebag? >> I don't want that to be a thing. I'd like to talk to you like a normal human being. >> I guess are we going downstairs there? >> Just a little bit. I'd like to talk to both of you regular people. >> Oh my goodness. I don't want things to be difficult. I would like to go home and I'd like to talk to you guys regularly. >> I don't want things to be crazy. I feel like you guys are terrified. Look at you. Are you just ripped up on me and why are you terrified? Are you Am I jumping? >> You think I'm going to go somewhere? >> Are you crazy? >> Are you listening to him? >> I said I am scared of you. You gripped up on me, put me in a corner, and said the wall. Are you serious, bro? >> Serious? >> I don't know. >> The last thing I want to do is realiate on either of you. I would like to figure out where I stand. >> I'm going to explain it to you in just a second. Right now you're standing in another. I want to go home, man. I do not like you guys. I want to go home. I hate I hate you guys. I want to go home. You guys are I want to go home. Oh god. Oh man. Oh, I don't want to [ __ ] with you, man. I just want to go [ __ ] home, man. I want to talk to my mom. I want to have some food with her. I want to eat. I just want to hang out with my mom and I want to go somewhere. She's right around the corner. That's it. That's it, man. That helps me go home with my mom right around the corner. That's it, man. Please, man. Please just let me go home, man. Please, man. Please, man. She'll she'll she'll grab me while I go home. You guys will never see me again. I promise you. I promise you. I I promise you guys, you'll never see me again. I promise you. That's probably My my mom's right there. She's going to come. I got David Hman and my mom Sophina right here. I promise you guys. Can I just please nothing? Did you urinate yourself? >> Yeah, I think. >> No, sir. >> Why your pants all? >> Oh, I was scared of you guys, so I possibly did. I would like to just go home. I have to work, too. Yeah. One week. to be back at the boat. Can you guys please not ruin my life? >> I can I can I can promise I can promise you, sir. I can promise you that every like I can promise you that I will have I can promise you on the dot that my job will be rebranded. Can I please promise you that I will take this like Can I please take this job? Nothing. It's just scaring the [ __ ] out of me. sit down. Sit down. >> Okay. >> My tails are falling down. >> Hang on. >> Hold on. >> How do you take that bracelet off? >> You just pull it off. Sorry. >> All right. Go ahead. Take a seat. Take a seat. >> Take a seat. Go ahead. Excuse me. >> Can I Can I talk to you guys? >> Kick your feet and go ahead. >> I'm not I'm not trying I haven't done anything. >> During transport, Benjamin spat on one of the arresting officers. Spitting on a law enforcement officer constitutes battery, a felony in most jurisdictions, and generated an additional charge well beyond the original outstanding warrants. Benjamin was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for time served, followed by 12 months of probation and fines. The status of any federal charge related to the in-flight assault remained unconfirmed at the time of this analysis. Officers received a B professional restraint and a lawful arrest offset by the failure to deploy a spit hood on a combative detainee during transport. That single tactical emission enabled a preventable battery on a law enforcement officer. Benjamin received a D for in-flight assault and spitting on an officer during transport. Spirit Airlines received a C minus. Crew performance in flight was commendable, but pre-flight screening failures created the entire incident. Three lessons emerge. Airlines must enforce 49 USC section 44,92 boarding authority. Officers should deploy spit hoods on combative detainees and individuals under arrest serve their own interests best through immediate calm compliance. pants.