Take your backpack, sir. For what? What did I do? Taking your backpack off. Put your hands behind your back. No. Well, I'm not Please proceed to Somebody grab his legs. SOMEBODY GRAB HIS LEGS. YEP. STOP RESISTING. MIAMI International Airport, 10th May, 2025. A couple denied [music] boarding after reporting a medical issue, suddenly turns confrontational with police at the gate. Body cam footage captures officers [music] trying to calm the situation down, but the man refuses to leave, argues with police, [music] and turns a routine airline decision into an airport arrest witnessed by stunned travelers. Good evening. What's going on tonight? How can I help you? They're saying she can't fly. Okay. And I want proof to why she can't fly. >> Hold on a second. I'm getting If they're a private business, if they say you can't fly for any reason, then you can't fly. Okay. So, I had lower abdominal discomfort. I understand. And But they They're They're private Do you understand? It's not a public service. This is a private group. What's happening? I'm sorry. I'm hard of hearing. My husband can't hear. He's >> If they don't want you to fly, you can't fly. Okay, but but let let me check out Let me check out here. Is it just today, or is it >> It's just today. It's usually Okay. Yeah. nauseous, vomiting, all that type of stuff. I called my flight attendant. Flight attendant said that she has to go to the hospital. She's got to get a clearance through her doctor to fly again. Okay. Perfect. We It's not like we've done this before, right? Okay. Okay. Did Did you understand what they're telling you? No. Hold on. Hold on. Okay. So, they're saying since you have discomfort and don't feel well, that you need to see a doctor. Yeah. You go to the emergency room and get a clearance that you're okay to fly. But you don't understand. >> to rebook You don't understand. Hold on. Hold on. Almost done. Yes. They're willing to rebook you tomorrow if you feel better. No. That's unacceptable. Yes, it is. No, it's not. Stop. Don't fight with me. Here. Don't fight with me. Please. I'm telling you how it's going to be. Don't wave your finger at me. I'll do what I have to do because you're drunk and you're not listening. So what? So what? You're going to get trespassed. For what? Please, sir. My father is Chicago police. My father Stop. I want you to go over there. My father is Chicago police. I have no more than respect for you. >> we're trying to deal with this right now. >> Yes. And I I I am I am simply telling you that I respect you, okay? And that my husband is All that is great, fine and dandy, but you have to get a medical clearance if you want to fly tonight. Tomorrow, they're willing to rebook you. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, Okay. I I Okay. I accept. Okay. Well, you have to. Okay. Great. Okay. So, So, you get >> something out with them about rebooking rebooking a flight for tomorrow, all right? Okay. All right. Thank you. I I I I'm sorry. I have I'm I have I'm a patient. And I was not feeling well. And >> You didn't tell me that in the beginning. You said you weren't feeling well. Yes, I have So But, if you're not feeling well, you can't fly. You You get that? Okay. Okay. So, you're going to have to make other arrangements tonight to go somewhere. Okay. Or Okay. Okay? All right, yes, sir. >> come back, you're going to be trespassed. If we come back a third time, somebody's going to jail. I don't want him to go to jail. >> either. I don't want anybody to go to jail. >> [laughter] >> So Um, do you have a place >> you Do you have a place? No, we We don't have a place >> Okay. There's some hotels. There's one here at the airport. >> Okay. Okay, we'll get one tonight. >> Okay. Let me Just please let me deal with him tonight. Okay. Sure. I'll calm him down. If you want, you can go down the elevator to the first floor, outside to the far left. There are shuttles that'll take you to hotels close by. All right. Okay. I'll calm him down and please >> floor, all the way to the left. Okay. Steve-O We're going to go together and go and Excuse me. Before you make hotel arrangements This is an embarrassment. Shut up. I look, you're stopping You're stopping and leave these men alone. All right? Take him out. Can I talk to him? Yes. So, before you make hotel accommodations, you have to go to the hospital to get checked out and make sure that you're fit to fly. Otherwise, you're going to show up here tomorrow and if you don't have that clearance letter, you're going to run into the same situation again before after having that clearance letter once you fly tomorrow. So, All right. you can you don't want to have the medics take you to the hospital. Um you can either refuse to go there or I can have them fill out the paperwork which is more likely. Do we want our flight It just depends on what they have to check you out and determine if they based on what they find then they'll make a decision on if to keep you there or if to let you go. What do you recommend? I mean, that's I'm not a medical professional. That's up to them. They have to check you out and then they'll make a decision on if They did not even boarding. I'm already, yeah. You got check You got medical clearance from there. You got medically cleared. She can go. Well, >> guy, the dreadlocks, that guy said no. Well, they're coming back now. Is that correct? I have to step out. I'm good. Since they're coming, do you want them to look at you as well? Just for safety. Since they're already coming, do you want them to look at you as well? For what? For anything. Oh, I'm fine. Okay. They they've been here already. Oh, they have. Yeah, they cleared me already. They cleared me, sir. I got to get these people from the hospital. Or doctor. Urgent care. There's one uh North Seminole behind the Wawa on Red Buggy Road. We're going to go to a hotel. See? I'm not How can I We're going to go to our hotel and I got to go to work, honey. You're going to have to take the day off. Why? Why? It's not. Leave the officers Look, leave the officers Why? We wouldn't know. That's That's between you and the airlines. Stop. I want you to leave the officers alone because they deserve our respect. Let's go, okay? Where is my luggage? What about my luggage? It'll No, shut up. Yeah, they will. And we're going to go to the I want to How do I get an explanation to why I can't travel? Stop. Leave them alone. Back up. Back up. Your luggage will be down on the second floor. I have to have the baggage room call it, but I'll be down there in a sec. Give me like 5 minutes and I'll be down there in 5 Okay. He's going to put in order to get your luggage and it'll be downstairs on level two. I want an explanation why I can't travel. I've told you I've told you more than once. You're drunk and you're not listening or understanding what I've said. Exactly, you're not. You are going to stop. You are going to stop. You are going to stop. So, I want you to go downstairs to the second floor and wait and wait for your luggage. All right. Thank you, officers. Thank you. Steve. Now. Thank you so much. Stop. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. So, what was the the original reason that they said no? Uh because she said she was hurting, had a lot of pain, didn't feel good. She She told that to the people at the gate or these people? Yeah. No, no. Can I talk to you for a second? I'll talk to you. I didn't do anything wrong. Let's talk over here. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm an American citizen. I didn't do anything wrong. So, here. Stand back for me just a second. I'm not going to arrest you, okay? I just wanted to talk to you for a second. >> to go home. So, who is she to you? She's my wife. That's your wife? Yes. So, I just want to get on a plane and go home. Yeah, man, but we explained to you several times that you have to listen to the other officer first before you can even come to that decision. They don't want your wife flying for whatever reason whatever medical reason she has, all right? I need medical That That is the explanation. They can refuse They can refuse Go Go with them over there. She was cleared. The paramedics came. The paramedics came, and they cleared her. The paramedics came. The paramedics Her license. I'll get you. The paramedics came and cleared her. They said she's okay to travel. That's not a Okay, that doesn't matter anymore. Yeah, we're not talking about >> past that. Now, all we're asking you right now is if you have her ID. Do you have any form of ID anywhere? Let me check. Two Americans being harassed. Not being harassed. Yes, we are. Yes, I am. I can't aboard the plane? Yes, I am. It's not harassment. Yes, it is. Why can't I board the plane? Cuz you're intoxicated. You're not You're not You're not getting on this I'm not. I guess that's what we got for that cuz she's the one that hit him. You want to pick the BAC? That's up to you, man. Yeah. Come on. I would do both of them for 69. I'll talk to Yeah, I'm sure they're going to want to So, he he gave us he gave us the passports. Do you have a license as well or just the passport? Uh yeah, I have a license. Yeah, can you check if it's in there? I want I need you right here. And stand right there. >> to call my lawyer right now. You call your lawyer. Call my lawyer. Right now. Right now. She's being retained? You are not being detained. She is. She is. I want to call her attorney right now. I'm coming over here. So, step back. I want her attorney right now. Step back. I want legal counsel right now. As an American citizen, she wants counsel right now. All right, I just watched her slap you across the face. >> What? I just watched her slap you >> care. I don't care what you saw. >> Where are you from? Are you from Florida? >> Are you from Florida? Where are you from? Okay, so in the state of Florida >> in America. >> Okay, in the state of Florida >> If we see if we see someone batter another person in the relationship in a domestic setting >> I want she wants legal counsel. >> Why is your wife being detained right now? >> Right now. Let her go. I want to speak to my wife. Stand back. I can I speak to my wife? >> No. Why not? Stand back. Why not? Because I said so, that's why. >> Who are you? >> You don't own me. This is a free country. I want to speak to my wife. >> I don't want my wife she wants legal counsel. You're about to be put in cuffs. For what? For what? >> For interfering. Interfering with what? Back up. What is she interfering with? No, you. What is she under arrest for? What has she have done wrong? Do you need to calm down or you're going to go in cuffs? Relax. I'm half your age. Are you are you on my side? Start acting your age. I am. And this is my wife and you have her retained by security officers on a bench. We're not supposed >> It's my wife. >> We're going to call the police. In the American states of and you're telling me to calm down. >> I just tell you 2 minutes ago? This is my wife. >> watched her slap you across the face. >> Now. If If this was your wife, would you let her sit there and be questioned by these officers? >> She slapped me. No. Walk over here. Really? This is my wife. Listen to me. Relax, okay? Relax. >> Who the [ __ ] are you? You relax or you're going put you on the ground. >> of my wife. We're going to be putting you on the ground, so relax. >> RELAX FOR WHAT? >> RELAX. Put your hands behind your back. LET MY WIFE GO. Don't do this. Relax. Stop resisting. For what? Easy. Just take your backpack off. >> I do? We're taking your backpack off. >> Put your hands behind your back. No. Put your other hand behind Can you grab his bike? Can you GRAB HIS BIKE? YEP. STOP RESISTING. YEAH. PUT THIS hand behind your back. Y'all good? Try to work on this arm. Yeah. Grab Grab his Just grab it. We We got this arm. >> your other hand? Give us your right arm, sir. Stop resisting. >> You're on top of it. Roll him a little bit. Bro. Remember, push your Push the elbow up. Push the elbow up. Push the elbow up. Give us your other hand, sir. Don't make it difficult. Loosen up. Loosen up. Give us your other arm. I am. Then give it. There you go. All right. We're going to get you up so slowly and listen to us, okay? Why don't we leave him here and just wait till we get a car? And Are you serious? I mean it's Are you serious? He has seized her what? Where's your car? What the What the [ __ ] did I do? I know. This one is the closer. Use this one. Um Are you Level three. Uh right here, I think number 20. Okay. What the How is my wife? That is his ma'am. She's fine. How do I know? Does he have any uh boarding pass? Well, you got my backpack. I know, but does he has one? >> They won't let me on the flight. They won't let my wife on the flight. What the Do you have a boarding pass? >> Yes, I do. >> Where is it? It's in my pocket. In your pocket? I almost took it. Why you yelling at me? Why? Really? I'M IN HANDCUFFS BEHIND MY BACK. WHAT YOU ARE getting in the He's touching my Yes, he is. All right, where is your boarding pass? Are you going to take my cash, too? No, no. Boarding pass. >> Really? You going to take my wallet? >> Where is your boarding pass? Why don't you let me off my handcuffs and I'll be happy to tell you. What the You said in the pocket, this pocket or his rear pocket? You crooks? Ow! Why am I in handcuffs? Hey, ma'am. Is your passes in your purse? Why are you handcuffing I just want you to know he doesn't even drink. This is what his Listen into yourself. Yeah. I am listening to myself. I'm I'm laying on the floor in the airport on my stomach in handcuffs and I'm asking why am I being handcuffed behind 10 security officers with armed weapons? Why? Really? REALLY? ASK MYSELF WHY? WHY? Why am I being handcuffed? HELLO. HELLO. [screaming] WHY AM I BEING HANDCUFFED? WHY AM I BEING HANDCUFFED? What are you doing? Let these handcuffs OFF OF ME NOW. Where is my wife? What are you doing to my wife? Get these handcuffs off. What crime did I do? What intentions you have? What up? Who are you? GET THESE OFF. NOW. YOU. GET THESE OFF. GET these handcuffs off. Yeah. Where's my belongings? Do I >> Nobody has a boarding pass on them. All right. Yeah. You got to leave. >> Yeah, I couldn't find any boarding pass in there. Okay. I didn't find nothing in the pocket of We need to go by Spirit and get his a copy of that boarding pass. Yeah. Cuz you remember they're giving us a hard time. Yeah. Well, do you have his ID? Can I have his ID? All right. Flight's on. We haven't counted his money yet. Do you need us to do anything else? Do you need us to take my phone and anybody? Well, I don't have a laptop. I thought there was none in the land side office. I got I can lend you mine if you want. I don't have my phone. You can take Uh, I think you you need the direct if it's not going to be yours. What am I being arrested for? Yeah, I think I'm I'm not. You have all that custom stuff in your bag. I'm just saying. Hey, listen. I'll say it again. That's cuz your hands are all twisted. Try to Can you try to twist them back? Try to twist them back. Take your watch off. We'll take care of it. Look, your watch is going to go in the bag, okay? We haven't counted the money yet. I just told my wife. Time to see. Appreciate it. Thanks a lot. >> All right, watch your legs, all right? Change the unit to you primary. I want to call him a What started as a simple denied boarding quickly spiraled into a public airport arrest after the couple refused to comply with airline [music] staff and police instructions. Officers say the man became disruptive, resisted removal, and was ultimately charged with disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest, and trespassing. [music] One bad decision at the gate turned a missed flight into criminal charges, all caught on body cam. Subscribe to Redefining Justice for more real police footage and breakdowns.