U-M student was 2nd passenger to fall victim to TSA worker's phony drug prank

Posted on Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.

U-M student was 2nd passenger to fall victim to TSA worker's phony drug prank

By Cindy Heflin

A Transportation Security Administration worker who pretended he found drugs in a the bag of a University of Michigan student at Philadelphia International Airport in January had played the prank earlier that day, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The first victim laughed the prank off, documents posted on the Smoking Gun website revealed.

U-M student Rebecca Solomon was shocked into tears in January when a Transportation Security Administration employee pulled a baggie of white powder from her computer case and asked "Where did you get this from?"

Read the Inquirer story.

Comments

walker101

Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.

What would you expect for someone earning less than $20K a year? No different than the hick cops patrolling our State Highways throughout the US, they need probable cause and this is as good as it gets.

peg dash fab

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 11:22 p.m.

he did, i mean, i'm laughing.

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.

This happened LAST JANUARY. A2.com is reporting on the finding that the TSA employee tried this once prior to the time he got busted for it. If you want to find out if she has taken legal action, do a Google search. Also, this guy did it as a gag to mess with people, the baggie was something that LOOKED like drugs, and he wasn't trying to "plant" it on them; he just wanted to get a good laugh.

Tex Treeder

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.

TSA: Trading our civil liberties for the illusion of security. This is the true legacy of the Bush administration.

trs80

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.

@dfossil, Pretty sure the TSA did not authorize, sanction and/or promote the employees inappropriate behavior. Now if she was arrested and charged on false pretense then she would have a case. I loathe how everyone in the USA is so lawsuit happy. Everyone wants a hand out.

AlphaAlpha

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 4:34 p.m.

"Can you imagine how many in law enforcement get away with this same scam? " Every day.

dfossil

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 4:28 p.m.

I'd say this young lady has a very good cause for a law suit against the Transportation Administration for her anxiety and distress. Maybe some supervisors should be let go if this is such a comon practice that it gets laughed off.

Atticus F.

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 2:39 p.m.

Agreed Carl...This brings into question ALL cases in which someone is charged with smuggling contraban. This worker should be charged if possible.

Carl Duncan

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.

Well well well if it isn't the ol' "look at what I found in your baggage, auto, and fill in the blank... trick." This scam has been going on at our borders and in our local police and county jurisdictions for years. I'm glad to hear that one of the so called "powers that be" got busted for planting evidence on an unsuspecting person. Can you imagine how many in law enforcement get away with this same scam?

5c0++ H4d13y

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.

Sounds like we need a FOIA request. Has the TSA agent been charged with a crime? I'm guessing not.

SonnyDog09

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 12:58 p.m.

From the fine article: "The worker is no longer with TSA, but whether his departure was forced or voluntary could not be determined because of privacy laws." Hopefully, the former employee has been added to the "no fly list", or at least to the "full body cavity search" list.